State Officials Urge The Cancellation of Outdoor Events Due to Rare Virus

Health officials in Michigan are urging organizations with outdoor events to cancel those events after three Michigan residents have died from a rare virus spread through mosquitos.

As of Tuesday, three Michiganders have died after contracting the mosquito-born virus Easter equine encephalitis. Four others have also gotten sick from the virus. So far there are eight affected counties including Kalamazoo, Cass, Van Buren, Berrien, Barry, St. Joseph, Genesee, and Lapeer.

Officials are urging organizations to consider canceling, postponing, or rescheduling outdoor events after dusk, especially if those events involve children. Late-night sports practices and games, music and band practices and more are just some of the suggestions to cancel.

The three people that died from the virus were from Kalamazoo, Cass, and Van Buren counties. The other four confirmed cases were in Kalamazoo, Berrien, and Barry counties. After more testing from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, animals in St. Joseph, Genesee, and Lapeer counties have been confirmed to have the virus.

Source: Detroit Free Press