According to the Equine Disease Communication Center and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, a new case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis was confirmed at a private facility in Levy County, Fla., on July 25. However, no quarantine has been issued.
Only the animals under quarantine have additional travel restrictions. The horse under quarantine is not allowed to leave the premises.
One 7-year-old Dutch Harness mare was confirmed with EEE on July 25 after showing clinical signs on July 4 of depression, incoordination, weakness in hind limbs, inability to stand and listlessness. The vaccinated mare was euthanized and the number of horses exposed is unknown.
This is the 19th confirmed case of EEE in Florida in 2024.
According to the Equine Disease Communication Center, eastern equine encephalitis is a vector borne disease. This virus is transmitted by mosquitoes or other biting insects. Birds act as reservoirs for the virus; mosquitoes and other biting insects then carry the pathogen from infected birds and transmit it to horses when they bite. A horse affected with EEE is not contagious and poses no risk to other horses, humans or birds.
The disease is severe with a mortality rate of 75% – 95% and the onset of neurologic disease is frequently sudden and progressive.
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