BERRIEN COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Thanks to the colder weather, health officials say mosquitoes carrying the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus no longer pose a threat.
Jillian Conrad with the Berrien County Health Department says the decline is part of the annual weather patterns that wipe out many insects. Simply put, it’s just too cold for mosquitoes to fly any longer.
In southwest Michigan there were 10 confirmed human cases and 5 deaths from EEE, a rare but deadly mosquito borne illness.
Some counties took the unusual measure of spraying aerial insecticides on areas considered high risk for the virus, which Conrad says was the first sprayings in the area since 1980.
According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, more than 557,000 acres of land was treated with the insecticide to kill of the mosquitoes over the summer.
She says although the winter weather may be here to stay for a while, they will be keeping an eye on the virus when it warms up again.
During the warmer weather months, anyone with standing water on their property should be conscious of mosquitoes. additionally always use bug spray and cover up if you’re headed outdoors at dawn and dusk, when they’re particularly active.
(copy written by Josh Scott)
