You might recall that in fall of 2019, Elkhart and LaGrange counties in Indiana, as well as seven counties in southwestern Michigan, were faced with an outbreak of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). This is a virus disease with a complicated life cycle involving several species of mosquitoes, birds, woody swampy areas, and sunny cattail-type swampy areas.

Local health officials have been monitoring mosquito populations and the bad news is, the type of mosquitoes capable of transmitting EEE is large and increasing. The good news is, none of the mosquitoes captured as of Aug. 3 had virus in their system.

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Jeff Burbrink is an educator with Purdue Extension Elkhart County. He can be reached at 574-533-0554 or jburbrink@purdue.edu.

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Protect your family from encephalitis and mosquitoes | Features - The Elkhart Truth