State health officials are urging people in nine Michigan counties to postpone, reschedule, or cancel outdoor activities and events that take place at dusk or after dusk, due to a spike in Eastern Equine Encephilitis (EEE) infections in horses.
EEE is a mosquito-borne illness which primarily affects birds, but it can also be transmitted to other mammals, including horses and humans.
The counties where EEE infections have been found in horses are Barry, Clare, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Oakland.
EEE is a rare but extremely deadly illness in humans. In 2019, 10 people in the state were infected with EEE, and six of them died.
Health officials say people should wear clothing that covers their arms and legs, and apply mosquito repellent if they must be outdoors, especially after dusk, when mosquito activity is high.
