Kalamazoo Co. man sickened by EEE

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - A Kalamazoo County man has been hospitalized after being infected with what appears to be Eastern equine encephalitis, the county's medical examiner told 24 Hour News 8.

Dr. Richard Tooker said the 61-year-old victim is very ill and currently being treated at a hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. More tests are needed to confirm if the illness is EEE.

The virus is "transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

" Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare illness in humans, and only a few cases are reported in the United States each year. Most cases occur in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states. Most persons infected with EEEV have no apparent illness. Severe cases of EEE (involving encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain) begin with the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting. The illness may then progress into disorientation, seizures, or coma. EEE is one of the most severe mosquito-transmitted diseases in the United States with approximately 33% mortality and significant brain damage in most survivors. There is no specific treatment for EEE; care is based on symptoms. You can reduce your risk of being infected with EEEV by using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and staying indoors while mosquitoes are most active."

Earlier this week Michigan authorities confirmed the virus in three horses this year in the state.