Home / Health / Deadly EEE Found in Michigan Horse; Human Case Confirmed
Deadly EEE Found in Michigan Horse; Human Case Confirmed
31 Aug
Summary
- First 2026 EEE case in a domestic animal found in a Michigan horse.
- Michigan resident from Roscommon County was the first human EEE case.
- EEE has a 30% fatality rate in humans who become ill.
Michigan's first case of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in a domestic animal this year has been identified in a horse from Clare County. The 1-year-old quarter horse colt was euthanized due to the severity of the mosquito-borne illness.
This detection comes after a Roscommon County resident was diagnosed with EEE earlier this summer, marking the state's first human case since 2021. State veterinarians and medical executives stress that EEE and other mosquito-borne viruses are active in the state's mosquito population.
Officials are urging Michigan residents to take precautions against mosquito bites, as EEE is a dangerous disease with a significant fatality rate in humans. Recommendations include vaccinating animals, eliminating standing water, using insect repellent, and housing animals indoors during peak mosquito activity.
EEE is typically observed in Michigan during late summer and early fall. The illness cannot be transmitted through direct contact between animals or from animals to humans.
