Released July 24, 2009
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Arkansas horse owners are being warned to take steps against Eastern Equine Encephalitis, or EEE, a mosquito-spread disease that has claimed two horses in east Texas.
EEE also has been reported this month in horses in Florida, Louisiana, Missouri and Virginia. The disease causes inflammation of the brain.
"Humans also are susceptible to EEE," said Tom Troxel, associate extension department head for animal science for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. "Measures should be taken to prevent human and animal exposure to mosquitoes."
Dr. Jeremy Powell, extension veterinarian, recommends vaccinating horses with the four-way or five-way EEE vaccine, as a line of defense against the disease.
However, vaccines aren’t the only means of protection.
"It is essential that you protect yourself and your horses against mosquito exposure with a repellent containing DEET," Troxel said. Ensuring your farm isn’t breeding mosquitoes is another important piece of prevention.
Drain stagnant water, where mosquitoes can breed, and use approved products that kill mosquito larvae in desired water sources, such as troughs, ponds and fountains. Avoid being outside at night or at dawn, when mosquitoes are most active, wear long sleeves when possible, and consider sheltering horses at night.
"Contact your veterinarian immediately, if your horse acts erratically, is confused, staggers or collapses," said Powell. "These are clinical signs of an encephalitic, or brain inflammation, condition, and a blood test is needed to confirm the diagnosis. With appropriate supportive care, about half of infected horses may survive."
Powell also said that an infected horse will not spread the West Nile Virus, EEE or Western Equine Encephalitis to humans.
For more information about horse health, see "Horse Health, Diseases and Vaccinations," online at http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/PDF/FSA-3059.pdf.
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/july2009/0724equine_enceph.htm
Writer: Elizabeth Fortune, (501) 671-2120, efortune@uaex.edu
