North Carolina Horse Owners: Vaccinate Against EEE

There were nine recorded cases of EEE in horses in North Carolina in 2016.
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North Carolina’s Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is encouraging horse owners in that state to have their animals vaccinated against Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE).

“Triple E is a mosquito-borne disease that causes inflammation or swelling of the brain and spinal cord in equine and is usually fatal,” Troxler said. “The disease is preventable by vaccination.”

There were nine recorded cases of EEE in horses in North Carolina in 2016, but the mild winter could cause that number to increase this year, said State Veterinarian Doug Meckes, DVM.

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. Horses that survive might have long-lasting impairments and neurologic problems

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