By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
Florida agriculture officials reported the 11th and 12th equid Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) cases this year in the state.
The latest cases are from Bay County and Jefferson County, both counties in the Florida panhandle.
Both horses are alive and were undervaccinated.
To date, the following counties have reported EEE cases–Jefferson (2), Nassau (2), Levy (2), Bay, Jackson, Leon, Madison, Volusia and Lake.
In addition to the positive horses, Florida officials have reported in 109 sentinel chickens from 24 counties.
No human infections have been reported this year.
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.
The mortality rate in horses from EEE is almost 90%.
