Multiple EEE Cases and Deaths in Florida Horses

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has reported six cases of Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) thus far in June. One case each was reported in  Washington and Osceola Counties, with two cases reported in Suwannee and Holmes Counties. There have been 18 confirmed cases of EEE in Florida thus far in 2019.

There were two cases in Holmes County. The first case was a 12-year-old Arabian gelding with an unknown vaccination history was confirmed with EEE on June 7 and is recovering.

The second case in Holmes County was a 7-year-old Quarter Horse with no vaccination history. It was confirmed with EEE on June 14. The horse was euthanized due to a poor prognosis.

In Washington County, a 20-year-old Rocky Mountain Horse with an unknown vaccination history was confirmed with EEE on June 11. The horse was euthanized due to a poor prognosis.

In Osceola County, a 2-year-old Quarter Horse with no vaccination history was confirmed with EEE on June 14. The horse was euthanized due to a poor prognosis.

In Suwannee County there were two cases of EEE. The first was in a yearling Miniature Horse with an unknown vaccination history was confirmed with EEE on June 14. The Miniature Horse was euthanized due to a poor prognosis.

The second case of EEE in Suwannee County was in a 3-year-old Warmblood that was confirmed on June 14. The horse was last vaccinated on June 4 of this year. The horse was euthanized due to a poor prognosis.

Information for this report was provided by the Equine Disease Communication Center.