Four More Michigan Horses Diagnosed with EEE
Because of the high mortality rate in horses and humans, EEE is regarded as one of the most serious mosquito-borne diseases in the United States. | Photo: iStock

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has confirmed four new horses in four counties with Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) as of Sept. 24. Nora Wineland, DVM, state veterinarian and director of MDARD’s Animal Industry Division, said the horses resided in Jackson, Kalamazoo, Montcalm, and Newaygo counties. These cases bring Michigan’s total number of confirmed positives to 14 for 2019.

The four most recent horses that tested positive include:

  • Jackson County – a 12-year-old unvaccinated pony gelding that experienced onset of clinical signs including ataxia (incoordination), circling, fever, and head-pressing on Sept. 15, was euthanized, and was confirmed positive Sept. 23;
  • Kalamazoo County – a 2-year-old Quarter Horse mare with unknown vaccination history that presented with clinical signs (ataxia, blindness, drooling, fever, and lethargy) on Sept. 17. She was euthanized and confirmed positive on Sept. 23;
  • Montcalm County – a 6-year-old unvaccinated Percheron gelding that experienced clinical signs of ataxia beginning Sept. 12 and was euthanized.
  • Newaygo County – an 11-year-old unvaccinated Percheron mare that presented with clinical signs on Sept. 5, including ataxia and recumbency (down and unable to rise) and subsequently died;

Other Michigan counties with confirmed EEE cases in 2019 include Barry, Lapeer, and St. Joseph

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