Man pronounced braindead 9 days after a mosquito bite

In what is Michigan’s worst outbreak in decades, a man was infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis from a mosquito bite which left him braindead.

Gregg McChesney was described as a “perfectly healthy, happy human being” by his brother Mark, who told told a local network that, “within a matter of fine days, he went from perfectly healthy to brain dead,” reports the New York Post.

The 64-year-old artist suddenly had a seizure and was rushed to the emergency department where he was pronounced braindead and eventually succumbed to the illness. Gregg is the third person to have died from the illness in the state this year, with reports of seven people being infected – despite the illness being “extremely rare.”

Eastern Equine Encephalitis, also known as EEE is a virus that usually affects horses (as per the name) and was first discovered when 75 horses mysteriously died. The symptoms are sever, involving encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain and is usually preceded by a headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting. Statistically, of those infected with the virus, 65% survive.