Three more Eastern equine encephalitis deaths have been reported in Michigan, Indiana and Massachusetts, bringing the nation's total to 13.
Michigan's most recent death in Cass County is the state's fifth EEE-related death, according to NPR's Michigan Radio. In total, there have been 10 confirmed EEE cases in Michigan. Despite dropping temperatures, state officials still urge residents to take precautions to protect against mosquito bites.
Indiana officials announced the state's first EEE-related death in Elkhart County Oct. 12, according to USA Today affiliate The Indianapolis Star. The death marks the state's first case since 1998, with only three human cases of EEE ever reported in Indiana.
On Oct. 11, a Taunton, Mass., man also died from the disease, The Providence Journal reports. The man was in his 50s and had EEE for more than a month. The case represents one of 12 confirmed in Massachusetts.
EEE is a rare mosquito-borne virus with a 30 percent fatality rate. The U.S. typically reports between three and 15 cases per year, according to the CDC. The nation is currently reporting the largest number of EEE cases in more than half a century, according to STAT.