Veterinary Advisory: EEE Diagnosed in Indiana


Indiana State Board of Animal Health

Veterinary Advisory

 

30 August 2019

EEE Diagnosed in Indiana

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) has recently been confirmed in 2 horses in Elkhart County. While two confirmations have been made, lab diagnoses are pending on more horses in Northern Indiana counties. The state of Michigan has reported six positive horses and three human cases of EEE. None of the horses were vaccinated.

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) encourages practitioners to explain the importance of vaccination for mosquito-borne illnesses to clients: Vaccination greatly reduces the risk of EEE. Proper use of the vaccine is key to keeping horses protected from the virus, including the necessary booster within three to six weeks of the first. A booster each year continues to protect horses from infection.

EEE is often called “sleeping sickness” because it causes infected animals to enter into a coma. Other clinical signs may include listlessness, high fever, head pressing and seizures. Horses that develop it rarely survive. The EEE virus is maintained in the bird population and is transmitted by mosquitoes. EEE can infect people and, like the more common West Nile virus (WNV), cannot be directly transmitted from infected horses to other horses or humans.

If practitioners observe clinical signs or death and the owner chooses to confirm the cause of death, samples including brain, liver, spinal cord and blood may be submitted for confirmation at the owner’s expense. Indiana state law requires that all positives be reported to BOAH by the confirming laboratory.

While vaccination is the best defense against mosquito-borne illnesses, property owners are encouraged to work to eliminate potential breeding sites for mosquitoes, including sources of standing water, like puddles, buckets, old tires, gutters and bird baths. Horse owners should pay close attention to keeping water in stock tanks fresh. This is especially true this late in the season, when newly vaccinated animals may not build up immunity before cold weather.

Veterinarians who identify potential clusters of cases should contact BOAH and their county health department. Contact BOAH (317-544-2400) with any positive EEE or other neurologic diagnosis. County health departments will distribute preventative information such as limiting outside activity between dusk and dawn plus ongoing insect spraying in areas where a diagnosis is found.

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Sent to you by:

Denise Derrer

Public Information Director

Indiana State Board of Animal Health

Phone:  317-544-2414

Email:  dderrer@boah.in.gov

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