Henry Hess, 72 (pictured), of Edwardsburg, Michigan, died from Eastern Equine Encephalitis on Saturday
A Michigan resident has died after contracting the rare mosquito-borne disease Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), bringing the nationwide death toll to 14.
The victim is 72-year-old Henry Hess, of Edwardsburg, who died early Saturday morning, reported WOOD-TV.
According to his family, he fell ill with flu-like symptoms in late September and visited the emergency room at St Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Doctors checked for brain inflammation with a CT scan, but there was none detectable.
Hess was given medication by the care team and sent home.
Carrie Hess, his daughter, told the station they asked about EEE after hearing about previous deaths in their state, but they were told that Hess likely did not have it.
Earlier this month, he told his family he wasn’t feeling well and wanted to go back to the emergency room.
Someone called 911 but, by the time paramedics arrived, Hess was unresponsive, reported WOOD-TV.
He was taken back to St Joseph Regional Medical Center, but doctors decided he needed more advanced care and transferred him to Loyola University Medical Center near Chicago.
On October 8, he was diagnosed with EEE, and doctors told his daughters it was unlikely he would ever regain consciousness.
They removed Hess from life support, per his wishes prior to the incident, and he passed away on October 12
Hess (left and right) went to to the emergency room in late September with flu-like symptoms. He was sent home with medication and doctors said they didn’t believe he had EEE
His family said he told them he wanted to go back to the emergency room earlier this month but, by the time paramedics he arrived, hew was unconscious. Pictured: Hess, right, with his late wife, Anne
‘He was very physically active, very physically fit, and just strong, so strong,’ Carrie Hess told WOOD-TV.
‘And then he got [bitten] by a mosquito. And it took the strong man that we knew and loved and just destroyed his brain.’
Hess was an Army veteran who fought in the Korean War and then worked in construction until he retired.
He was very active and even dug a pond himself behind his home. The family believe that’s where he may have been bitten by mosquitoes.
‘He hated bug spray,’ Carrie Hess said. ‘So even if we would’ve said: “Dad, put on some bug spray,” he wouldn’t have listened to us.’
Hess’s death marks the fifth fatality from EEE in Michigan out of nine confirmed cases.
There have additionally been four deaths in Massachusetts, three in Connecticut, one in Indiana and one in Rhode Island.
EEE is a rare disease caused by a virus that is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes.
It was first detected in Massachusetts in 1831 and typically affects about an equal number of horses and humans every year: roughly five to 10.
There is a vaccine for horses who contract the virus, but not humans.
His daughters said he never came out of his coma and, per his wishes, they took him off of life support. Pictured: Hess
Hess was an Army veteran (pictured) who served in the Korean War and later became a construction worker until he retired
The majority of cases occur between late spring through early fall along the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states
Most people don’t develop symptoms, but those who do can experience chills, fevers, headaches and vomiting.
Occasionally, the disease can cause seizures or life-threatening brain swelling (encephalitis).
There is no cure and treatments consists of supportive therapy such as respiratory support and IV fluids.
About one-third of those with EEE die from the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health officials recommend that residents protect themselves by wearing long sleeves and pants as well as bug spray when going outside.
They also suggest draining any standing water from places such as bird baths and buckets because mosquitoes are attracted to still water.
