NewsDesk @bactiman63

The Florida Department Agriculture and Consumer Services reports a Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) case in a Marion County colt.

The undervaccinated horse has died.

This is the ninth EEE case in a Florida horse in 2022–the other include Osceola (2) and one each in Orange, Polk, Columbia, Levy, St. Johns and Bradford counties.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is spread to horses and humans by infected mosquitoes, including several Culex species and Culiseta melanura.

In horses, 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.