Following is a report by the animal health surveillance network (RAIZO) of the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec.

Only two cases of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) had been reported in Québec in the past 35 years until the fall of 2008, when the province experienced an outbreak of the disease. The first case was reported by Sonia Chénier, doctor of veterinary medicine and animal pathologist with the Laboratoire d’épidémiologie animale du Québec (the state animal epidemiology laboratory), which is associated with the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (MAPAQ).

The situation was analyzed by MAPAQ’s animal health surveillance network (RAIZO), which rapidly relayed the information to veterinary practitioners, Québec horse industry stakeholders, and public health authorities. The 2008 report that is currently being drafted will provide a clearer idea of the threat posed by EEE for equine and human health in North America.

RAIZO, whose activities are overseen by MAPAQ, is mandated to protect Québec’s herds and public health. It consists of a number of sentinel networks that correspond to the various animal industry sectors. The equine network works mainly on collecting, analyzing, and distributing the information required in order to protect equine and public health. Thanks to the veterinary practitioners who make up this equine network, it was possible to quickly detect the EEE outbreak in Québec last fall