Argentina declares state of emergency due to Equine Encephalitis (EEE/WEE/VEE)
Hundreds of cases confirmed
Argentina's National Service of Animal Health and Agrifood Quality (Senasa) recently declared a state of health emergency throughout the national territory due to outbreaks of equine encephalitis—Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), western equine encephalitis (WEE) and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE).
So far, a total of 426 positive outbreaks have been confirmed, according to Senasa, accounting for 13 by laboratory diagnosis and 413 by clinical diagnosis (due to symptoms and epidemiological link).
It is spreading rapidly nationally and into neighboring Uruguay.
To date, outbreaks have been recorded in eight of Argentina's 24 provinces—Buenos Aires, Chaco, Corrientes, Córdoba, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Formosa and Santiago del Estero .
The health measures includes immediate containment measures. It also ratifies the restriction of movements and measures for concentrations of horses and their exceptions.
• Mosquito control: It is essential to prevent the spread of the disease and contagion to horses and people. Take into account the application to animals and the environment of products authorized by Senasa.
• Vaccination of horses against this disease: To this end, Senasa is coordinating with the Veterinary Products chambers in order to have the availability and distribution of the greatest number of vaccines in the shortest time possible.
• Immediate notification to Senasa in the presence of nervous signs in horses.
• Reduce equine movements to the minimum possible.
• Avoid concentrations or events that involve concentration of horses.
Regarding the vaccines, Senasa confirmed Monday the arrival of 300,000 doses of equine encephalitis vaccine -Eastern and Western variants- and hoped availability would increase in the coming days.
Distribution priority will be given to the districts with the highest number of positive notifications and to areas with favorable ecological conditions for the presentation of the virus and the registration of equine stocks.
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Vaccination must be carried out by licensed veterinarians who must sign the animal's documents. Animals vaccinated for the first time need a booster dose between 3 and 4 weeks later. The vaccine is valid for one calendar year and the antibodies reach protection level 14 days after injection.
EEE/WEE/VEE are caused by Alphaviruses. Birds and rodents are the primary reservoirs, but unvaccinated horses are particularly susceptible and often serve as sentinels. These diseases are zoonotic, infecting humans, and are a public health concern.
The disease, which can affect humans, is considered an “international public health threat” because of its “high potential to cross borders”, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).