New Jersey officials announced last week that the state’s first equine case of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) since 2000 had been detected. The 8-year-old Thoroughbred in Mays Landing, Atlantic County, was euthanized Aug. 7.

“Eastern equine encephalitis has a high fatality rate in horses,” said New Jersey’s agriculture secretary Charles M. Kuperus. “Therefore, it is very important that owners check to make sure their horses are up to date on vaccinations against this disease.”

The affected horse first showed signs of illness on Aug. 6, and the owner reported that the horse’s health steadily declined. Blood tests confirmed presence of EEE. The horse’s vaccination status was unclear.

In 2000, one horse was infected with EEE and died. In 1998, 12 horses and two birds died after being infected with EEE