Health Watch: EEE kills 3 horses in N.J. and N.Y.

Three more cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) have been reported in the Mid-Atlantic area.

According to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, a yearling filly from Ocean County and a 3-year-old gelding from Morris County tested positive for EEE in late August. The mare was vaccinated but the gelding was not and both have been euthanized.

Another case of EEE was reported earlier in August.

Meanwhile in New York, An un-vaccinated, 11iyear-old mare was diagnosed with EEE after the owner first noticed symptoms on Aug. 22.

A veterinarian examined the mare on the same day and noted the following: depression, trembling, stumbling, blindness, fever. The horse was symptomatically treated but the next day she was down and non-responsive. She was euthanized on Aug. 23. West Nile virus and rabies tests were negative according to the Equine Disease Communications Center.

EEE, is a viral disease that affects horses' neurological system is transmitted by mosquito bite.  EEE is a serious disease that causes inflammation of the brain tissue and has a significantly higher risk of death in horses than West Nile Virus (WNV) infection.

Horse owners are urged to vaccinate their animals from mosquito-borne illnesses such as WNV and EEE because animals that are vaccinated are less likely to contract these deadly diseases. Effective equine vaccines for WNV and EEE have been available for several years.

Source: Nj