FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 5, 2019
CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, SutfinL1@michigan.gov
LANSING, Mich. – To help combat Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) more than 365,000 acres have been treated, and a fifth night of aerial treatment is underway, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has announced.
Areas completed to date include Area 1-1 in Allegan County, Area 2-1 in Barry County, Area 3-1 in Berrien County, Area 4-1 in Calhoun County, Areas 5-1 and 5-2 in Cass County, Area 8-1 in Kent County, Areas 10-2 and 10-3 in Montcalm County, Area 11-1 in Newaygo County, Areas 12-1, 12-2 and 12-3 in St. Joseph County and 13-1 in Van Buren County. Area 1-2 in Allegan County and Area 13-3 in Van Buren County have been partially completed and are on the schedule for tonight.
The areas slated for treatment tonight are on the Aerial Treatment Zones Map and include:
Weather alternatives are areas that may be treated if there is inclement weather in one part of the state, but not in that area. Please refer to the County-level Aerial Treatment Maps for more details of the identified zones’ locations. These schedules are weather dependent and may change. All other treatment zones will not be treated this evening. Aerial treatment will continue, depending on weather, until all areas of risk are treated or there is a hard frost sufficient to kill these mosquitos.
As of Oct. 4, EEE has been confirmed in nine people, with four fatalities. Cases are in Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. In addition, cases have occurred in 34 animals from 15 counties: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Genesee, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Montcalm, Newaygo, St. Joseph and Van Buren. The mosquitos that spread EEE are still active and were caught in traps set Oct. 1 in southwest Michigan.
More information is available at Michigan.gov/EEE.
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