Second New Jersey Horse Tests Positive for EEE

A 9-year-old Atlantic County mare is New Jersey’s second reported case in 2017 of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).

The horse had not been vaccinated against EEE for two years and is undergoing treatment. The onset of the illness was Sept. 17.

“Horse owners need to be vigilant in vaccinating their animals against diseases spread by mosquitoes,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher. “Vaccinated animals are much less likely to contract deadly diseases such as EEE and West Nile virus (WNV).”

A viral disease, EEE is transmitted via bites from infected mosquitoes and affects the central nervous system. Clinical signs of EEE include moderate to high fever, depression, lack of appetite, cranial nerve deficits (facial paralysis, tongue weakness, difficulty swallowing), behavioral changes (aggression, self-mutilation, or drowsiness), gait abnormalities, or severe central nervous system signs, such as head-pressing, circling, blindness, and seizures. 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