The Tennessee Departments of Agriculture and Health this month urged horse owners to protect their horses from mosquitoes and to review vaccination records for Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and other mosquito-borne diseases including West Nile Virus (WNV). 

“Outbreaks of viral encephalitis in horses are a seasonal occurrence due to the prevalence of mosquitoes in late summer and early fall,” said Ron Wilson, DVM, Dipl. ACVP, state veterinarian with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. “Horse owners should be aware of symptoms of viral encephalitis and consult their local veterinarian if a horse develops any of the signs associated with this group of diseases.”

Several states have reported cases of EEE in horses this season. Tennessee’s first confirmed case of 2008 was reported the week of July 28 in Carroll County. The disease kills up to 90% of the horses infected with the virus.

Another mosquito-borne disease, West Nile virus (WNV), has also been seen in horses from all regions of the state during the past several years