Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services is urging local officials in certain counties to consider postponing or canceling all night-time outdoor events. This after four more cases – two fatal – of the mosquito-borne illness E.E.E. were confirmed in the southwestern part of the state. The Department is strongly encouraging residents to do everything they can to protect themselves against mosquito bites – as the state experiences the worst outbreak of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in more than a decade. Health experts say E.E.E. is the one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the U-S with a 33 percent fatality rate among humans who become ill and a 90 percent fatality rate among horses that become ill. Triple-E infections only occur after a bite from a mosquito carrying the virus. In humans, signs include the sudden onset of fever, chills, body and joint aches that can develop into severe encephalitis, resulting in headaches, disorientation, tremors, seizures and paralysis. In some cases, permanent brain damage, coma and death could occur.
