The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) will be conducting aerial spraying in 14 Michigan counties to combat the outbreak of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). As of September 27th, EEE was confirmed in nine people in Michigan in Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren counties. Three of those cases proved fatal. 27 cases have been found in animals in 13 counties.
The outbreak has made national news. Officials at the MDHHS say that spraying was scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 29th, at 8 p.m., but that has been changed due to weather. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health said, “We are taking this step to help protect the health and safety of Michiganders in areas of the state that are being affected by this dangerous mosquito-borne disease.”
