The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has confirmed that a 7-year-old horse from Cape May County was euthanized on Aug. 3, one day after showing neurologic signs consistent with Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a serious, mosquito-borne illness in horses. Tests on the gelding concluded the animal was positive for EEE.

“Horse owners need to be vigilant in vaccinating their animals against diseases spread by mosquitoes,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher. “Vaccinated animals are much less likely to contract deadly diseases such as EEE and West Nile virus.”

The Cape May horse was obtained from a horse rescue two weeks prior to the onset of illness and the animal’s vaccination history was unknown.

In 2012, New Jersey had six cases of EEE and four cases of West Nile virus (WNV) between June and October