KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Kalamazoo County health officials say one of the people who contracted the rare mosquito-borne illness Eastern Equine Encephalitis has died.
Authorities didn’t release that person’s name Friday.
There have been three confirmed cases of EEE in Michigan, all of them in Kalamazoo and Berrien counties. There are an additional two suspected cases in Kalamazoo and Berrien counties and two more cases in Kalamazoo County still under investigation.
One of the patients in Kalamazoo County, 14-year-old Savannah DeHart, has been improving recently was set to be moved to Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids Friday, according to a Facebook page run by her mother.
Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services on Friday reminded people to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors at dusk and dawn and using insect repellent with DEET. You should also get rid of any standing water near your home and make sure your door and window screens are well fitted.