News & Information

FIRST CASE OF EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS CONFIRMED IN VIRGINIA

Submitted by: Elaine Lidholm, Va. Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Phone: 804/786-7686
Date Added: 9/30/2008

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has confirmed the first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in a horse this year. The 15-month old male pony was from Virginia Beach and was unvaccinated for EEE. He was sick for two days with a high fever and abnormal neurologic signs, euthanized on September 19 and samples were taken to the VDACS Regional Animal Health Laboratory in Ivor for necropsy on September 26, 2008.

So far this year there have been no reported cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) in horses in Virginia. In 2007, Virginia had one case each of EEE and WNV, both reported in June.

VDACS’ State Veterinarian encourages horse owners to work with their veterinarians to plan a vaccination schedule that will protect their horses from EEE.

Generally, both EEE and WNV are transmitted by mosquitoes. Typical symptoms include staggering, circling, depression, loss of appetite and sometimes fever and blindness. There is no cure for the disease, but it can be prevented through vaccination. Other prevention methods include destroying standing water breeding sites for mosquitoes, use of insect repellents and removing animals from mosquito-infested areas during peak biting times, usually dusk to dawn.

For more information, please contact the Office of the State Veterinarian at 804/692-0601 or consult your local veterinarian.