Ontario Reports EEE and WNV Cases in Horse Population

Ontario, Canada, has reported additional cases of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and equine West Nile virus (WNV). 

Second EEE Case in Ontario

A second case of Eastern equine encephalitis was confirmed by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs the week of October 23, 2017. The 19-year-old mixed breed mare was 11 months pregnant and unvaccinated for EEE. She was from the District of Muskoka. Neurological signs began as muscle tremors and hind end weakness and progressed rapidly to recumbency. The mare was euthanized. 

This is the second confirmed case of EEE in Ontario in 2017.

Three New Equine WNV Cases in Ontario

Since October 19, 2017, three cases of equine West Nile virus have been reported in Frontenac County, Oxford County and the Regional Municipality of Halton according to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The horses were a gelding, a filly and a mare with ages ranging from 2 to 11 years. Clinical signs ranged from hind end weakness, muscle fasciculations and hyperesthesia to ataxia. All three are recovering under veterinary supervision. One horse was unvaccinated, one had not been vaccinated for three years, and one 4-year-old had been vaccinated yearly since it was two. 

There have been 21 total equine WNV cases reported in Ontario in 2017.

For more information visit http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/facts/nhd_surv2017.htm.

The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) works to protect horses and the horse industry from the threat of infectious diseases in North America. The communication system is designed to seek and report real time information about disease outbreaks similar to how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerts the human population about diseases in people.