According to the U.S. Geological Survey, horses in two Florida counties have tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), and a horse in Georgia has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV).

Area news websites indicate that one horse in Marion County (located in central Florida) and two horses in Holmes County (located in northern Florida) tested positive for the mosquito-borne disease EEE in late July.

More than 90 horses tested positive for EEE in Florida in 2010, the highest number since 2005 when more than 120 horses tested positive. Because of its mosquito-friendly climate, Florida has consistently been one of the top five states for numbers of confirmed EEE cases in recent years.

A viral disease, EEE affects the central nervous system and is transmitted to horses by infected mosquitoes. The fatality rate for EEE in horses is 75-95%. The course of EEE can be swift, with death occurring two to three days after onset of clinical signs despite intensive care. Horses that survive might have long-lasting impairments and neurologic problems