Recent reports aboutEastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) have some area residents on edge, but officials insist the danger isn’t as great as feared.

Michigan health officials have confirmed eight cases of EEE in this late summer period and some people have died of the disease, which is caused and spread by infected mosquitoes.

Just like many schools in the Kalamazoo area, Wayland and Mioddleville Thornapple Kellogg had their high school football game Friday moved from 7 p.m. to 5:30 because it has been reported the mosquitoes are most active at dusk and later. The Martin and Hopkins football games at home Friday went on at the usual times, but fields were sprayed.

A posting on the Martin P{ride web site said, “Plainwell And Martin friends, the DNR has confirmed a dead deer on M-89 and Doster Road (in Barry County) from Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Please keep your children safe and covered in bug spray if they play outside. This is not a disease to mess with.”

Henry Reinhart, veterinary at Pickle Street in Monterey Township, posted, “Have your horses been vaccinated yet? As many of you have heard there have been some EEE floating around the south-western corner of our service area.

“Since this is spread by mosquitoes, all horses even if they don’t leave the farm, need to be vaccinated. Also many vaccine manufacturers will not honor any guarantee if the vaccine was not administered by a veterinarian.”

Residents are advised to be wary, especially in the evening, and have appropriate repellant applied, along with wearing long-sleeved clothing.