NewsDesk @bactiman63

Florida agricultural officials report a Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) case in a vaccinated, one-year-old Trakhener breed from Suwannee County.

Earlier this week, the stallion presented with depression, elevated temperature, muscle twitching, incoordination, weakness of hind limbs and head pression.

The horse was euthanized.

This is the eleventh confirmed case of EEE in Florida in 2023–The ten other cases this year were reported from Lake County (1-January), St. John’s County (2-February, July), Polk County (2-both in April), Baker County (1-May), Jackson County (1-July), Putnam County (1-August) and Jefferson County (2-June, July).

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

EEE is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S. with a 90 percent fatality rate among horses that become ill and a 33 percent fatality rate among humans who become ill.

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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.

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