State health officials today have confirmed three human West Nile Virus (WNV) cases for Michigan in three separate counties.

A 57-year-old Grand Traverse County man has tested positive for the disease, said Janet Olszewski, Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health. He was first hospitalized approximately two weeks ago and is improving.

A 74-year-old Wayne County man – currently hospitalized in Oakland County – also has tested positive. He was first hospitalized two weeks ago, Olszewski said.

A 55-year-old man from Kent County has also tested positive for WNV. His health status is not known at this time, she said.

"Now more than ever, it is important for residents to use appropriate precautions when outside to limit their exposure to mosquitoes," Olszewski said. "We continue to monitor health departments and hospitals statewide for additional reported cases of WNV."

Olszewski said test results for more potentially positive cases are still pending at the state health laboratory in Lansing.

Last year, Michigan was lightly impacted by WNV, with only 16 human cases and no deaths reported. Human cases have been reported nationwide in 25 other states, with cases occurring throughout the country. So far in Michigan, 198 birds have been submitted from 45 counties for WNV testing this year – 48 of those birds have been positive in 21 counties.

Rates of infection in birds and mosquitoes submitted for surveillance purposes have increased in the last two weeks, indicating an increased level of virus present in the state.

Physicians are urged to test patients for WNV if they present with fever and signs of meningitis or encephalitis, or sudden painless paralysis in the absence of stroke during the summer months.

Michigan residents are encouraged to:

• Maintain window and door screening to help keep mosquitoes out of buildings.
• Drain puddles in the yard, and empty water from mosquito breeding sites such as buckets, troughs, barrels, cans, old tires, or similar sites.
• Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active (dawn and dusk).
• Wear light colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.
• Apply insect repellants that contain the active ingredient DEET to exposed skin or clothing, always following the manufacturer’s directions for use. (Avoid applying repellent containing DEET to children less than two years of age.)