Maggie Sue Glenister Wilcox of New Haven died Sunday after contracting the EEE virus. Her fifth birthday would have been Tuesday.

In the obituary on the Nelson Funeral Home's website, the family of the little girl said, "We ask that our tremendous loss of Maggie Moo bring about awareness of the significant and imminent danger regarding the EEE virus and that actions be taken to prevent this tragedy from happening again."

The county has not yet said if they will reconsider spraying the area.

The victim's family says they will speak to the media Tuesday morning.
Friends of the family say they are preparing to hose a fundraiser in honor of the four-year-old. The benefit will be held at the New Haven Fire Department this Saturday. Organizers are asking anyone who can lend a hand with donations to contact them at ajeform2011@yahoo.com.

In response to Wilcox's death, the Public Health Director at the Oswego County Health Department expresses condolences and deepest sympathies to the family, saying the loss of a child is a tragedy no one should have to endure.

But now questions are being raised about conducting aerial spraying to control the mosquito population. Dr. Dennis Norfleet says the county has been working closely with the State Health Department and the consensus is that aerial spraying would not eliminate EEE in the county. The county will continue to collect data, monitor conditions and evaluate all factors to formulate future decisions.

In a statement released late Monday afternoon, Dr. Norfleet said, ."One of the factors that led to that decision includes the lower mosquito infection rate this year. Another consideration is that spraying will only eliminate a portion of the mosquito population for a limited time and not completely eradicate the problem."