December 2019

The Michigan Update

Maintaining Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) Testing Capabilities is Critical for Performing Clinical Confirmatory Testing for Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus

Jessica Jenkins, Kristine Smith, Diana Riner - MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories

When people think of mosquito-borne diseases, West Nile virus is usually what comes to mind. Most people have never heard of a virus called Eastern equine encephalitis virus, usually referred to as “EEE” or “triple E”. Though it’s not as well known, EEE has been present in Michigan for decades.  Per the CDC, human cases of neuroinvasive EEE are sporadic, with only seven cases reported in Michigan from 2009-2018. In 2019 however, ten human cases of EEE were reported in Michigan with six fatalities. Testing for EEE requires highly trained microbiologists and special laboratory space as arboviruses can cause severe disease in humans. Michigan is one of seven places in the US capable of performing EEE confirmatory testing.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Bureau of Laboratories (BOL) provides arbovirus testing for the State of Michigan. The arbovirus panel at the BOL includes West Nile virus (WNV), St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLE), EEE, and California group virus- Lacrosse antigen (CGV). The screening test for arboviruses detects IgM antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid. Patient samples that are positive or inconclusive by the IgM test will undergo a confirmatory test known as the “plaque reduction neutralization test” or “PRNT”. As antibodies produced against one arbovirus can weakly bind to other arboviruses and “cross-react”, the combination of IgM testing and the confirmatory PRNT are often needed for confirmation of infection.

Maintaining Biosafety Level 3 Capabilities >>

News & Articles

Planning for People with Mental Health Needs During Emergencies

Alice Frame - MDHHS Disabilities Health Unit Coordinator

Disaster and trauma can cause stress, anxiety, and depression in individuals who may not have a history of mental illness, and they can magnify symptoms of those who do. Planning for the needs of those with mental illness during an emergency is a vital part of disaster preparedness; consider the following needs for people with mental illness:

1. Access to mental health professionals
2. Access to medication
3. Training for first responders

Mental Health Needs During Emergencies >>

Research

Twenty Years of West Nile Virus Spread and Evolution in the Americas Visualized by Nextstrain

To bring new attention to one of the most important mosquito-borne viruses in the Americas, the authors provide an interactive review using Nextstrain: a visualization tool for real-time tracking of pathogen evolution (nextstrain.org/WNV/NA). Using Nextstrain, they use virus genomics to investigate the emergence of West Nile virus in the US, followed by its rapid spread, evolution in a new environment, establishment of endemic transmission, and subsequent international spread. Overall, their review showcases how genomics can track West Nile virus spread and evolution, as well as potentially uncover novel targeted control measures to help alleviate its public health burden. 

West Nile Virus Spread and Evolution >>

This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement number 1NU90TP922062-01-00, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.

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