The South Carolina State Veterinarian’s Office has received laboratory confirmation of the first Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) case in South Carolina in 2018. The 5-year-old mare, which was located in Chesterfield County and had no vaccination history, died.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture has received two laboratory reports confirming the fifth and sixth positive cases of Eastern equine encephalitis for 2018. The first case was a 1 1/2-year-old paint filly located in Craven County, North Carolina. The second case was in an 8-year-old gelding Quarter Horse in Onslow County, North Carolina. The animals had no vaccination history.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has confirmed the state’s first 2018 West Nile virus (WNV) case in a horse from Addison (Steuben County). The 15-year-old gelding started showing clinical signs on August 4. The owner noticed ataxia in all four limbs, generalized muscle fasciculations, decreased tail tone, but no fever. The gelding was hospitalized on August 5 for testing and further treatment. Blood sample results for West Nile virus, along with concurrent signs of illness, confirmed active WNV infection. The horse had not been vaccinated for West Nile virus in recent years. The horse had no recent travel history. As of August 8, the horse is recovering from infection.
