Area farmers and those who have horses are being warned to be on the lookout for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) after reports that a Barry County man was hospitalized with the disease.

The victim was taken to Spectrum Hospital, but since then has been transferred to Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital.

A Mayo Clinic test the man has EEE, but further conformation is awaited.

Michigan this year has reported 22 cases of the disease, caused by infected mosquito bites. EEE almost always is fatal for horses, but they can be vaccinated. There is no vaccine for humans, but only a small number of people develop symptoms considered serious.

There were reports of 10 deaths due to EEE last year in southwest Michigan and health officials said it is rare for it to be a problem for two consecutive years.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is conducting nighttime aerial sprays to kill mosquitoes over the 10 counties where animal cases have been confirmed, including Barry County.