Health officials confirmed four new cases of the mosquito-borne disease Eastern Equine Encephalitis in southwest Michigan, two of which resulted in death, reports CNN.
The new cases, which occurred in different counties than previous ones, bring Michigan's total case count to seven for the year. The Michigan health department is urging residents to take precautions against EEE by postponing or rescheduling outdoor night activities.
"Michigan is currently experiencing its worst Eastern Equine Encephalitis outbreak in more than a decade," Joneigh Khaldun, MD, the health department's chief medical executive and chief deputy for health, said in a statement cited by CNN.
EEE can be fatal, with people younger than 15 or older than 50 at the greatest risk. Typically, five to 10 cases are reported each year in the U.S., according to the CDC.
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