A person from Allegan County was infected with equine encephalitis from the east, according to information provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The person was hospitalized late August with a neurological disease, according to a press release.

Eastern equine encephalitis, transmitted to people by mosquito bite, has a death rate of 33%, according to the press release. Survivors often have lasting brain damage.

The Allegan County case is the first human case in the state since 2016, when three people were infected, according to the press release.

According to the press release, mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile virus, will continue to be a risk in the state until the end of autumn, when nighttime temperatures are constantly falling below freezing .

There are still many mosquitoes in Michigan, "said Dr. Eden Wells, medical director of MDHHS, in the press release. "Outdoors, Michigan residents are urged to take precautions to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites, including using an insect repellent and wearing long pants and long sleeves.

Horse owners should note that the virus can cause neurological disease in horses. According to the press release, vaccination can protect horses against infection with Eastern equine encephalitis.

The disease is a bird virus that is spread by mosquitoes near marshes and peat bogs. Human cases are rare, with only a few cases reported each year in the United States, according to the press release.

People with the virus can have fever, headaches, chills and nausea. In some cases, the symptoms may progress to brain inflammation, marked by disorientation, convulsions and coma. Physicians who treat patients with these symptoms should consider screening for IAS and other mosquito-borne viruses and should report suspected cases to the local health department.

West Nile virus continues to cause illness among people across the state, with a total of 44 cases and two deaths reported to date. West Nile has also been identified in 149 mosquito basins, 115 birds and a horse throughout the state.

Measures to protect yourself include:

• Avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when you're outside.
• Apply an insect repellent containing the active ingredient DEET or another EPA approved product to exposed skin or clothing, always following the manufacturer's instructions.
• Use nets and / or fans on outdoor dining areas.
• Maintain screening of windows and doors to prevent mosquitoes from entering buildings.
• Empty water from mosquito breeding sites such as buckets, unused ponds, old tires or similar sites where mosquitoes lay.

For more information on IAS, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's EEE Web site at: Cdc.gov/easternequineencéphalite.

For updates on equine and human cases of EEE, WNV, and other mosquito-borne diseases in Michigan, visit the Emerging Diseases website at Michigan.gov/emergingdiseases.

Read or share this story: https://bwne.ws/2xiBceg