On July 22, one horse in Franklin County, Florida was confirmed with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), according to a Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) report.
The unvaccinated yearling became neurologic July 17th and was euthanized due for humane reasons. This the first case for Florida in 2017.
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.
In related news, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) reported one eagle with West Nile virus (WNV) infection was reported in Sarasota County.
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