Precautions Still Urged Against Mosquito Bites To Prevent EEE

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There is a new case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Berrien County, bringing the total of confirmed human cases to two. A deer has also tested positive for EEE according to the Berrien County Health Department. Carrie Brunson is the supervisor for the Elkhart County environmental health division in Indiana and talked to our partners at WSBT about what’s behind the large crop of mosquitoes carrying the disease.

“We had a severe rainy spring and now a dry summer with intermittent rain,” said Brunson. I think that has contributed to the mosquitoes, too.”

Brunson says health experts aren’t sure yet if we’ll see this kind of an outbreak next year.

“If you look, it seems to be a cycle every nine to ten years.”

The best way to protect yourself is to not be outside after dusk. If you do, however, wear long pants, long sleeves, and coat yourself in insect repellent that contains DEET.