For the first time this year, a dangerous mosquito virus has been detected in a domesticated horse in Van Buren County.
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a virus that comes from infected mosquitoes and their bites. It is not spread through human to human contact or horse to horse contact, according to state officials.
Cases are rarly found in humans, but about one-third of people who contract the disease die, according to Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Symptoms of the disease in humans can include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes and drowsiness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The disease can be prevented with standard insect-repelling techniques such as bug spray containing deet and covering exposed skin with long sleeves.
For horse owners, the state is encouraging a conversation with veterinarians about vaccinations and eliminating standing water.
