SOUTHWEST MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Many school officials in Southwest Michigan are doing what they can to keep students protected against mosquitos.
State health officials have confirmed 7-cases of the deadly mosquito borne virus in Southwest Michigan with 3-deaths in Kalamazoo, Van Buren and Cass counties.
Eight counties are now on the EEE warning list: Cass, Van Buren, Barry, Kalamazoo, Berrien, St. Joseph, Genesee and Lapeer.
Kalamazoo Public School officials are sending a letter to parents warning them about the recent outbreak.
Some schools farther south have moved their sporting events to earlier in the day to avoid being out when the mosquito are most active.
Tips from the KPS letter are:
- Use insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane diol, and 2-undecanone; follow the product label instructions and reapply as directed.
- Don’t use repellent on children under 2 months old. Instead dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs and cover crib, stroller and baby carrier with mosquito netting.
- Wearing shoes and socks, light-colored long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors.
- Making sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.
- Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings.
- Using bed nets when sleeping outdoors or in conditions with no window screens.
- Eliminating all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding around your home, including water in bird baths, abandoned swimming pools, wading pools, old tires and any other object holding water once a week
- Use nets and/or fans over outdoor eating areas
- Avoid outdoor activities from dusk until dawn when the mosquito species that transmits the EEE virus to humans is most active.
