(BATTLE CREEK) – A Battle Creek man has become the fourth fatality from Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Michigan.

According to WWMT, 79 year old Stan Zalner died Wednesday morning as a result of the mosquito borne virus. He had been in a coma for weeks after contracting the virus in early September.

Zalner's daughter, Ronna Bagent says her father had been sick for weeks. He was finally hospitalized with severe flu like symptoms before doctors confirmed he had EEE.

Bagent says she and her family let Zalner die because of the irreparable brain damage he suffered.

Michigan started to see an increase in EEE infections back in July. The State and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed nine cases of EEE in humans and 33 in animals in 15 counties around Michigan. The cases are largely concentrated in West Michigan, impacting parts of St. Joseph, Cass, Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Genesee, Kalamazoo, Jackson, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Montcalm, Newaygo and Van Buren Counties.

The illness kills one-third of those who contract it. Many of those who survive have ongoing neurological problems.

Many of the affected counties have done aerial sprayings to help rid themselves of the mosquitoes. Others have opted out.

Health officials remind people if they are going to be outside at dusk or later, to use insect repellent with DEET and to take other precautions to avoid mosquito bites.