Waushara County, Wisconsin, Horse Tests Positive for EEE
The unvaccinated mare, which was euthanized on Aug. 13, was the state’s second case of the mosquito-borne disease for 2019. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Just two weeks after reporting Wisconsin’s first 2019 case of eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) in Barron County, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (WDATCP) Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) announced on August 14 that it confirmed a second horse had EEE, this time in Waushara County.

The unvaccinated 13-year-old Standardbred mare exhibited neurologic signs and was euthanized on Aug. 13. Test results confirmed she was EEE-positive on August 19. Her signs included ataxia, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), fever, recumbency (down and unable to rise), and seizures.

“EEE is fatal in more than 90% of cases, yet it’s preventable through vaccination,” said Julie McGwin, DVM, equine program manager for the Division of Animal Health at WDATCP. “If your horse is showing neurological signs, contact your veterinarian for a diagnosis.

“Symptoms of EEE are similar to other diseases such as rabies, which is fatal in humans if not treated immediately,” she added. “EEE is based on mosquito populations, and while people cannot get EEE from horses, mosquitoes can transmit EEE to both horses and people

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