COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency Health Officer Rebecca Burns gave the Branch County Board of Commissioners an update Thursday on steps which are being taken to combat Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
Four persons have died from the mosquito borne disease.
There have been nine human cases reported along with 33 animal cases. Burns said there are no human vaccinations that can fight EEE. She said the weather this year is one of the reasons for the problem.
Burns said they tried to get the word out last Friday that spraying was going to take place through news releases, and by spreading the information at a fish fry in Nottawa, which draws a big crowd every year.
As of Thursday afternoon, over 186,000 acres have been sprayed in southwest Michigan, including three areas in St. Joseph County. One area in northeast St. Joseph County borders the Sherwood area. Spraying is taking place within a 2 ½ mile radius of every EEE case.
No EEE cases have been reported in Branch County, but Burns says they have procedures in place in case spraying is ordered in the county.
Burns fears more animal cases will be reported as they await confirmation on pending cases from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
