On July 20, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reported three confirmed Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) cases in horses in Baker, Holmes, and Jackson counties, according to the Equine Disease Communication Center. All three horses showed clinical signs on July 13, and the state confirmed all three cases on July 17.

The state had previously reported its ninth equine EEE case of 2020 on July 11.

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.

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