Florida: 6 Eastern Equine Encephalitis cases in horses reported year to date

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) as of today, officials have reported six cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in horses in the state.

The six cases are distributed in the following counties: Bradford, Lake, Levy, Madison (2) and Seminole.

In addition to horses, officials have also reported positive samples from two emus, and 19 sentinel chickens have been reported from nine counties.

No human cases of EEE have been reported.

EEE is spread to horses and humans by infected mosquitoes, including several Culex species and Culiseta melanura.

EEE is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S. with a 90 percent fatality rate among horses that become ill and a 33 percent fatality rate among humans who become ill.

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In horses, the virus causes inflammation or swelling of the brain and spinal cord. General symptoms include central nervous system signs such as: head pressing, convulsions, lack of response to facial stimulation, fever above 103 degrees, ataxia, paralysis, anorexia, depression and stupor. Other symptoms may include irregular gait, teeth grinding, in-coordination, circling, and staggering. All symptoms may not be exhibited by an infected horse.