Michigan's first case of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in 2025 has been confirmed in a horse in Benzie County, state officials announced Thursday.

EEE, which can affect horses and humans, is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S., experts warned. It has a 33% fatality rate in humans who become ill, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said, and a 75-95% mortality rate in horses, according to the Equine Disease Communication Center.

"It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to cause a severe illness," said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive, in a statement. "We urge Michiganders to take precautions such as using an EPA-registered insect repellent when outdoors, avoiding areas where mosquitoes are present if possible, a

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