Aerial spraying against mosquito-borne disease is finished

Lansing – More than 462,000 acres have been sprayed from the sky to prevent the spread of Eastern equine encephalitis, the Michigan health department said Thursday.

No additional treatment is planned.

The illness has been confirmed in one person in Barry County as well as 30 horses and two deer. Another case in a human is suspected in Montcalm County.

EEE is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S. It can be fatal and often leaves survivors with brain damage.

“We continue to urge communities and residents to take precautions against mosquito bites as the risk of EEE remains until the first hard frost,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan’s medical executive.

The affected counties are Allegan, Barry, Calhoun, Clare, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Livingston, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo and Oakland.