An unvaccinated horse in Escambia County, Florida, was recently euthanized after contracting Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), according to an Aug. 1 statement from the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County.

As a result, officials are encouraging area owners to ensure horses are vaccinated against mosquito-borne diseases, the statement said.

According to the Florida Department of Health's weekly mosquito-borne disease surveillance program, 32 Florida horses had tested positive for EEE so far in 2014 at the last update (July 26).

A viral disease, EEE affects the central nervous system and is transmitted to horses by infected mosquitoes. 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