By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Clemson University Livestock Poultry Health (LPH) reported Friday on the first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in South Carolina this year.

Image/Barescar90

“The infected horse, a 15-month-old Tennessee Walking Horse stallion from Marion County, had not been vaccinated and had to be euthanized,” said Sean Eastman, a veterinarian and LPH Animal Health Programs field services director.

Mosquitos transfer it to horses, where symptoms usually develop from two to five days after exposure.

Symptoms include stumbling, circling, head pressing, depression or apprehension, weakness of legs, partial paralysis, the inability to stand, muscle twitching or death.

EEE cases were also reported Saturday in a Horry County quarter horse and a Edgefield County Miniature Horse.

“We have effective equine vaccinations available against diseases like EEE and West Nile Virus (WNV) and it is crucial that horses be vaccinated,” said Boyd Parr, South Carolina state veterinarian and LPH director. “Horses don’t get SAR2-CoV-2, but they do get EEE and WNV if left unvaccinated and these are very deadly to them.”