The unvaccinated gelding from Livingston County experienced onset of clinical signs, which included fever; recumbency; seizures; rapid back-and-forth, right-to-left eye movement; and being minimally responsive, on Sept. 23, and was subsequently euthanized. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The unvaccinated gelding from Livingston County experienced onset of clinical signs, which included fever; recumbency; seizures; rapid back-and-forth, right-to-left eye movement; and being minimally responsive, on Sept. 23, and was subsequently euthanized.

The following counties are involved in the 2019 outbreak: Barry (2), Calhoun (2 canines), Jackson (1), Kalamazoo (5), Lapeer (1), Livingston (1), Montcalm (1), Newaygo (1), and St. Joseph (3).

EEE 101

Eastern equine encephalomyelitis is caused by the Eastern equine encephalitis virus, for which wild birds are a natural reservoir. Mosquitoes that feed on EEE-infected birds can transmit the virus to humans, horses, and other birds. Horses do not develop high enough levels of these viruses in their blood to be contagious to other animals or humans. 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