The Florida Department of Health has reported positive samples of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in animals in 30 of the state’s 67 counties through June 28. At that date in 2007 only 14 counties had positive EEE results from animals.

There have been 45 horses confirmed positive. Florida counties that have had positive horse samples (with dates of onset) are:

Alachua,1 horse (5/3); Baker, 3 horses (4/7, 5/26, 5/30); Bradford, 2 horses (5/25, 5/26); Clay, 1 horse (2/27); Columbia, 3 horses (3/10, 3/26, 4/8); Flagler, 1 horse (6/12); Holmes, 4 horses (6/5, 6/18, 6/19, 6/21); Jackson, 2 horses (4/18, 5/22); Jefferson, 1 horse (6/18); Lake, 1 horse (1/28); Marion, 2 horses (3/14, 5/14); Orange, 1 horse (6/9); Osceola, 3 horses (4/11, 5/30, 6/6); Polk, 1 horse (2/14); Palm Beach, 1 horse (6/11); Putna,: 1 horse (1/8); Santa Rosa, 1 horse (5/16); St. Johns, 1 horse (5/8); Volusia, 8 horses (1/4, 1/26, 2/11, 2/26, 3/25, 3/28, 4/20, 5/26); Walton, 2 horses (6/1, 6/19); Washington: 5 horses (5/25, 6/6, 6/9, 6/22, 6/23).

EEE is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is transmitted to horses by infected mosquitoes. Signs of the virus include fever, listlessness, stumbling, circling, coma, and usually death. The disease is fatal in horses in 90% of the cases