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Allegan County resident infected with Triple E, a dangerous mosquito-borne disease

Commonly known as Triple E, the disease has a 33 percent fatality rate and can leave survivors with lasting brain damage.
Credit: Thinkstock

LANSING - State health officials confirmed that an Allegan County resident was infected with Eastern equine encephalitis, one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the United States.

The individual was hospitalized on late August with a neurologic disease.

Commonly known as Triple E, the disease has a 33 percent fatality rate and can leave survivors with lasting brain damage.

This is the first human case of Triple E reported in Michigan since 2016, when three people were infected. Prior to that, it was documented in Michigan residents in the early 1980s, mid-1990s and 2010.

Triple E is a virus of birds that is spread to humans by mosquitos. Human cases are rare, and symptoms may progress to inflammation of the brain.

“There is still plenty of mosquito season left in Michigan,” said Dr. Eden Wells, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services chief medical executive.

Mosquito-borne illnesses will continue to be a risk until late fall, when temperatures consistently fall below freezing at night.

Michigan is also dealing with West Nile virus with a total of 44 reported cases and two fatalities.

The state's health department is reminding residents to take preventative measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

  • Avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
  • Wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.
  • Apply insect repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET or other EPA- approved product to exposed skin or clothing, always following the manufacturer’s directions for use.
  • Use nets and/or fans over outdoor eating areas.
  • Maintain window and door screening to help keep mosquitoes out of buildings.
  • Empty water from mosquito breeding sites such as buckets, unused kiddie pools, old tires or similar sites where mosquitoes lay eggs.

More information about Triple E can be found here.

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