With unseasonably warm weather persisting well into the fall, mosquito-borne illnesses remain a serious health threat for Tennessee horses.

A horse in Dyer County and a horse in Gibson County both recently tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). Additionally, a horse in Chester County has tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).

Both WNV and EEE are viral diseases transmitted to horses by infected mosquitoes.

“We typically think of mosquitoes as a summer-time pest,” said Tennessee State Veterinarian Charles Hatcher, DVM. “However, the record heat this fall has allowed mosquitoes to endure. It’s critical that livestock are current on annual vaccinations for year-round protection