EEE Confirmed in Three Michigan Horses

Michigan animal health officials have confirmed three equine cases of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE): one in a horse from Oakland County and two in horses from Lenawee County.
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On Sept. 19, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) State Veterinarian James Averill, DVM, PhD, confirmed three new equine cases of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE): one in a horse from Oakland County and two in horses from Lenawee County.

“EEE is a dreadful illness, causing severe swelling of the brain in horses, stumbling, depression, and sometimes blindness,” said Averill. “Horse owners in southern Michigan counties in or near low lying forest and wetland areas should be especially aware of the risk and take extra measures to protect their animals. Vaccinating at any time against the virus is encouraged, even this late in the year.”

A viral disease, EEE affects the central nervous system and is transmitted to horses by infected mosquitoes. Clinical signs of EEE include moderate to high fever, depression, lack of appetite, cranial nerve deficits (facial paralysis, tongue weakness, difficulty swallowing), behavioral changes (aggression, self-mutilation, or drowsiness), gait abnormalities, or severe central nervous system signs, such as head-pressing, circling, blindness, and seizures.

The course of EEE can be swift, with death occurring two to three days after onset of clinical signs despite intensive care; fatality rates reach 75-80% among horses. Horses that survive might have long-lasting impairments and neurologic problems

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