2 Florida Horses Test Positive for EEE
The horses lived in Duval and Levy counties and were euthanized.
Two horses in Florida, located in Duval and Levy counties, recently tested positive for EEE and were euthanized.
Two horses in Florida, located in Duval and Levy counties, recently tested positive for EEE and were euthanized. | Adobe Stock

Two horses in Florida recently tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). In Duval County, a 4-year-old Appaloosa gelding was confirmed positive on May 30 after developing clinical signs on May 25, including fever, depression, and circling. He was euthanized. In Levy County, a 2-year-old warmblood stallion was confirmed positive on May 31 after developing clinical signs on May 21, including fever, recumbency, and inability to retract his tongue. The horse was euthanized. 

There have been six confirmed cases on EEE in Florida in 2024. 

EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. The EDCC is an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.

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.

Tips for preventing mosquito-borne diseases include:

  • Avoid mosquito bites: Use insect repellent when outdoors, especially from dusk to dawn.
  • Look for EPA-labeled products containing active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin (KBR3023), or oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane 3,8-diol).
  • Apply more repellent, according to label instructions, if mosquitoes start to bite.
  • Mosquito-proof homes: Fix or install window and door screens, and cover or eliminate empty containers with standing water where mosquitoes can lay eggs.
  • Protect your horses: Veterinarians recommend commercially available licensed vaccines against EEE for all horses in the U.S. Horses should be vaccinated at least annually (recommendations vary in high-risk areas). It’s not too late this year to vaccinate your horses.
  • Use approved insect repellents to protect horses.
  • If possible, put horses in stables, stalls, or barns during the prime mosquito exposure hours of dusk and dawn.
  • Eliminate standing water, drain water troughs, and empty buckets at least weekly.
  • Stock water tanks with fish that consume mosquito larvae (contact your local mosquito control for assistance), or use mosquito “dunks” (solid “donuts” of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, which are nontoxic to horses) available at hardware stores.
categories
tags
Trending Articles
Arthroscope ready to be used at the surgery room
Disease Du Jour: Arthroscopy in Horses 
Happy to help
AAEP Commission on Veterinary Sustainability: New AAEP Internship Hub 
portrait of beautiful holstein grey stallion horse on red forest background
Disease Du Jour: Nuchal Bursitis in Horses
1-Bathing_BiancaMcCartyPhotography-22
New Opinions Regarding Free Fecal Water Syndrome
Newsletter
Don’t miss an important EDCC Health Alert! Get alerts delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for EquiManagement’s newsletter.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Country*

Additional Offers

Untitled
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for EDCC Health Watch text alerts to get notified when an equine disease outbreak is reported in your state or region.