Eastern Equine Encephalitis - Florida

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Horse deaths prompt call for vaccinations​

http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/040106/np11.htm?date=040106&story=np11.htm


In parts of Florida, mosquito season has begun early and the result is four horses dead from Eastern Equine Encephalitis, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs.
Agriculture commissioner Charles Bronson issued a notice this week that those with horses should keep vaccinations against the deadly mosquito-borne disease up to date.
All of the horses that died were in North Florida: Columbia, Duval, Marion and Levy counties.
"Last year, there were 150 reported cases of EEE across 43 counties," Bronson said, "triple the number from the year before when 48 cases were reported in 27 counties.
"Now that mosquito season is upon us, it is critical that horse owners take steps to protect their animals." He said the disease is appearing early this year due to a warm winter.
EEE is a viral disease transmitted horse-to-horse by mosquitoes. It attacks an animal's central nervous system, causing balance problems. A horse might stagger, fall or stand awkwardly with its front legs crossed. EEE has a 90 percent fatality rate.
Mosquitoes also are responsible for the spread of West Nile virus, but so far this year no cases are known to the agriculture department. For farm animals, a vaccination was placed on the market in 2001 and Bronson said West Nile cases have declined each year since, as savvy owners vaccinate their animals.
West Nile can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes and there is no vaccine approved for use. It is a fatal in a small percent of cases.
"There was a lot of attention paid to West Nile virus when it was first discovered in Florida in 2000," Bronson said. "Horse owners did a very good job in protecting their animals from this disease. We want to be sure we are just as aggressive in protecting horses against EEE."
Bronson said the state's numerous mosquito control districts are stepping up surveillance, control and prevention measures to keep the mosquito population in check.
DeSoto County does not have a mosquito control district.
The most recent case of equine encephalitis was confirmed this week.
DeSoto agriculture extension agent Jim Selph said most horse owners in the county are knowledgeable about vaccinations and keep their animals current.
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[emmysue]

Fowl infected; Volusia issues mosquito alert

Fowl infected; Volusia issues mosquito alert

Fowl infected; Volusia issues mosquito alert
Posted April 8, 2006
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...1782387.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-volusia

DELAND -- Three chickens have been infected with Eastern equine encephalitis, prompting Volusia County officials to alert the public Friday about the presence of disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Eastern equine encephalitis is a mosquito-borne viral disease and the most serious form of encephalitis in North America, said Jonas Stewart, Volusia County's mosquito-control director. It also can affect people and horses.

"I think people are complacent now, thinking they can sit outside in the cool morning and evening air with little chance of disease-carrying mosquitoes biting them," Stewart said.

The infected chickens, which don't die from the disease, were found in Pierson, New Smyrna Beach and Deltona. They were among 48 so-called sentinel chickens, which were placed in 16 locations in or near all Volusia cities to detect the disease, officials said.

An infected person usually takes three to 10 days to develop symptoms, which include sudden fever, headache, vomiting and stiff neck, among other things.

Last year, an 18-month-old Land O'Lakes girl died after being infected with Eastern equine encephalitis. In Volusia, the last human cases occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

County officials are asking the public to avoid being outdoors during dusk and dawn, wear clothing that covers the skin, use mosquito repellent containing DEET, and eliminate mosquito breeding sites by draining standing water.