BATTLE CREEK, MI (WTVB) – As had been speculated earlier this week, health officials have confirmed a case of eastern equine encephalitis in Calhoun County.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human services says this is the state’s 8th human case of 2019.
The Battle Creek Enquirer reported on Thursday that a local family was 99.9 percent certain that their father has contracted the disease. 79-year-old Stan Zalner has fallen into a coma after being hospitalized three weeks ago.
Calhoun County joins Barry, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties in the confirmation of human cases.
Three people in Kalamazoo, Van Buren and Cass counties have died from the mosquito-borne illness so far this year.
There have been three confirmed horse cases of the disease in St. Joseph County and all three animals died. Recent animal cases of EEE have been identified in Calhoun, Jackson and Montcalm Counties.
Residents are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquitoes.
