Michigan resident infected with deadly mosquito-borne disease, health officials say

For the first time since 2016, a resident of Michigan has been diagnosed with a case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-borne virus that can cause "long-lasting brain damage" and even death. said in a statement Monday.

The news comes after the resident of Lansing, who has not yet been identified, was hospitalized in August "with a neurological disease," said the department. The case is the first of the state since three people were infected in 2016.

The EEE is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. The infection is "a bird virus that is spread by mosquitoes near swamps and peat bogs," according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

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Although rare in humans, the disease is life-threatening.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that nearly one-third of people with EEE die, while those who survive have mild to severe permanent neurological lesions.

"On average, 7 human cases of EEE are reported each year in the United States. Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts and New Jersey generally have the largest number of cases. Transmission of EEEV is more common in and around freshwater hardwood swamps in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states and in the Great Lakes region, "continued the CDC.

According to the CDC, people at risk of contracting the virus – named in part because horses are susceptible to infection – are more likely to "engage in outdoor activities and recreational activities" in areas where the virus is more common.

Symptoms of EEE infection include fever, headache, chills and nausea, according to the department. However, the CDC also noted that "it is possible that some people infected with EVSE are asymptomatic".

Although a vaccine is available to protect horses against the virus, there is none available for humans.

"There are still many mosquitoes in Michigan," said Dr. Eden Wells, medical director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

"Michigan residents are advised to take precautions to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites, including using mosquito repellent and wearing long pants and long sleeves," said Wells.

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Other tips to prevent mosquitoes include the use of screens on windows and doors and avoid going out at dusk and dawn when insects are the most assets. The CDC believes that emptying stagnant water areas where mosquitoes lay eggs, such as tires, bird baths and buckets, is also important for prevention.