By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) was notified of a confirmed case of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in a 26-year-old horse located in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.

Image/Alexas_Fotos

The unvaccinated horse presented with mild muscle fasciculations, recumbency and somnolence and is currently recovering.

This is the first EEE case in Ontario this year.

EEE is a mosquito-transmitted disease that is much more severe than West Nile Virus (WNV).  The mortality rate in horses from WNV is reported at around 30%, while the rate for EEE is almost 90%.  Infected mosquitoes are the primary source for EEE.

The virus causes inflammation or swelling of the brain and spinal cord.  General symptoms include central nervous system signs such as: head pressing, convulsions, lack of response to facial stimulation, fever above 103 degrees, ataxia, paralysis, anorexia, depression and stupor.  Other symptoms may include irregular gait, teeth grinding, in-coordination, circling, and staggering.  All symptoms may not be exhibited by an infected horse.