DETROIT – Three Michigan residents have died from the rare mosquito-borne virus Eastern equine encephalitis and four others have been sickened by the disease, state health officials said Tuesday, amid the biggest outbreak in more than a decade. Those who live in all eight of the affected counties – Kalamazoo, Cass, Van Buren, Berrien, Barry, St. Joseph, Genesee and Lapeer counties – are urged to consider canceling, postponing or rescheduling outdoor events that occur at or after dusk, especially those that involve children, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. This would include events such as late-evening sports practices or games or outdoor music practices "out of an abundance of caution to protect the public health and applies until the first hard frost of the year," according to an health department news release. The three people who died were all adults, said Bob Wheaton, a spokesman for the health department. The Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department also issued a recommendation to local communities and school districts to consider canceling outdoor events at dusk or after dark, when mosquitoes are most active, or move them indoors. “Michigan is currently experiencing its worst Eastern equine encephalitis outbreak in more than a decade,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “The ongoing cases reported in humans and animals and the severity of this disease illustrate the importance of taking precautions against mosquito bites.” EEE is one of the most deadly mosquito-borne viruses in the U.S. One in three people who are infected with the virus die. The only way to prevent it is to avoid mosquito bites. The state health department says residents should: Symptoms of EEE include: Anyone experiencing these symptoms should visit their doctor. Follow Kristen Jordan Shamus on Twitter: @kristenshamus