Wisconsin Confirms First EEE Case for 2018

The affected 6-year-old unvaccinated Belgian mare from Washburn County did not survive.
Share
Favorite
Close

No account yet? Register

ADVERTISEMENT

eee in wisconsin
A viral disease, EEE affects the central nervous system and is transmitted to horses by infected mosquitoes. | Photo: iStock

Wisconsin animal health officials have confirmed the state’s first case of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in a horse for 2018, the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported July 27.

“On Thursday, July 26, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection confirmed a case of Eastern equine encephalitis in a 6-year-old unvaccinated Belgian mare from Washburn County,” the EDCC said. “The mare presented with neurological signs and was examined on July 20, 2018. The horse died or was euthanized and brain tissue samples were submitted to the diagnostic laboratory on July 21, 2018.”

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. The course of EEE can be swift, with death occurring two to three days after onset of clinical signs despite intensive care; fatality rates reach 75-80% among horses. Horses that survive might have long-lasting impairments and neurologic problems

Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com.

Start your free account today!

Already have an account?
and continue reading.

Share

Written by:

Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

Related Articles

Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with

FREE weekly newsletters from TheHorse.com

Sponsored Content

Weekly Poll

sponsored by:

Where do you primarily feed your horse?
297 votes · 297 answers

Readers’ Most Popular

Sign In

Don’t have an account? Register for a FREE account here.

Need to update your account?

You need to be logged in to fill out this form

Create a free account with TheHorse.com!