2008/2009 Vaccine Alerts and Updates...
2008 Eastern Equine Encephalitis Update!
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a mosquito-borne viral disease. EEE virus
(EEEV) occurs in the eastern half of the United States where it causes disease
in humans, horses, and some bird species. Because of the high mortality rate,
EEE is regarded as one of the most serious mosquito-borne diseases in the
United States.
The State of Florida and county health officials are expected to issue an
Eastern Equine Encephalitis advisory for Florida areas.
According to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, the virus responsible for
EEE attacks the nervous system and horses are particularly susceptible to the
infection. It is almost always fatal in horses.
Symptoms include unsteadiness, erratic behavior and a marked loss of
coordination. There is no effective treatment and seizures resulting in death
usually occur within 48 to 72 hours of an animal's first indications of illness.
There were several cases identified in the Texas area in 2007. Please consider
vaccinating your horses in order to protect them from this fatal disease and
to also help prevent any human contact from occurring. Humans over the
age of 55 and under the age of 15 are the most susceptible to the disease.
In addition, we recommend that you give this vaccination as a booster
especially if your horse hasn’t received the VEWT in the past six months.
Feel free to contact the clinic if you have any additional questions.
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a mosquito-borne viral disease. EEE virus
(EEEV) occurs in the eastern half of the United States where it causes disease
in humans, horses, and some bird species. Because of the high mortality rate,
EEE is regarded as one of the most serious mosquito-borne diseases in the
United States.
The State of Florida and county health officials are expected to issue an
Eastern Equine Encephalitis advisory for Florida areas.
According to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, the virus responsible for
EEE attacks the nervous system and horses are particularly susceptible to the
infection. It is almost always fatal in horses.
Symptoms include unsteadiness, erratic behavior and a marked loss of
coordination. There is no effective treatment and seizures resulting in death
usually occur within 48 to 72 hours of an animal's first indications of illness.
There were several cases identified in the Texas area in 2007. Please consider
vaccinating your horses in order to protect them from this fatal disease and
to also help prevent any human contact from occurring. Humans over the
age of 55 and under the age of 15 are the most susceptible to the disease.
In addition, we recommend that you give this vaccination as a booster
especially if your horse hasn’t received the VEWT in the past six months.
Feel free to contact the clinic if you have any additional questions.
2009 Update - Two Texas horses test positive for EE Encephalitis
Protect horses against mosquito-borne diseases.
By Bob Hillman, DVM
Executive Director
Texas Animal Health Commission
This year, Texas has joined at least five other states in reporting cases of Eastern Equine
Encephalitis infection in horses.
In Houston County, a horse with clinical illness has tested positive for the disease, and,
in Denton County in north central Texas, a vaccinated horse also tested positive and
exhibited clinical signs of disease. EEE, which can be transmitted to humans by infected
mosquitoes, also has been reported this year in horses in Georgia, Florida, Maine,
Tennessee, New Hampshire and in Ontario, Canada.
“Infected horses are a ‘sentinel’ or warning that infected mosquitoes are in the area, and
measures should be taken to protect humans against exposure to the dangerous pests,”
said Dr. Andy Schwartz, state epidemiologist for the Texas Animal Health Commission
(TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency.
“Protect yourself and your horses with a mosquito spray containing DEET, get rid of
stagnant water and avoid being outside at night, when mosquitoes are more active.”
According to Schwartz, horses with mosquito-borne encephalitic viruses, such as EEE,
Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) or West Nile Virus (WNV), may stagger, appear
confused, and act erratically. Owners are asked to contact their veterinarian immediately
if their equine animals exhibit clinical signs of these diseases.
“With the appropriate supportive care, about half of infected animals may be saved,” said
Dr. Schwartz. Although EEE, WEE and WNV are not regulatory diseases, they are
reportable to the TAHC and to the Texas Department of State Health Services, due to
their potential to cause human disease.
“Vaccines are readily available to protect equine animals against mosquito-borne
encephalitic diseases, but they must be given according to the manufacturer’s”
directions, and it takes at least a week to 10 days after vaccination for protective
antibodies to develop,” Schwartz said. “Booster shots also must be given as needed. Heed
your veterinarian’s advice. As good as vaccines are at protecting against infection, there
are rare times when a vaccinated animal will still contract disease, but that is no reason
to avoid vaccinating your animals.”
Schwartz noted that, in 2002, when West Nile Virus was first detected in Texas, 1,699
equine animals were stricken with infection. West Nile vaccine has helped cut those case
numbers from 716 in 2003 to only two cases in 2008.
“Vaccinating against mosquito-borne diseases has to be a part of routine equine health
care,” he said. “Don’t stop, just because case numbers drop.”
Protect horses against mosquito-borne diseases.
By Bob Hillman, DVM
Executive Director
Texas Animal Health Commission
This year, Texas has joined at least five other states in reporting cases of Eastern Equine
Encephalitis infection in horses.
In Houston County, a horse with clinical illness has tested positive for the disease, and,
in Denton County in north central Texas, a vaccinated horse also tested positive and
exhibited clinical signs of disease. EEE, which can be transmitted to humans by infected
mosquitoes, also has been reported this year in horses in Georgia, Florida, Maine,
Tennessee, New Hampshire and in Ontario, Canada.
“Infected horses are a ‘sentinel’ or warning that infected mosquitoes are in the area, and
measures should be taken to protect humans against exposure to the dangerous pests,”
said Dr. Andy Schwartz, state epidemiologist for the Texas Animal Health Commission
(TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency.
“Protect yourself and your horses with a mosquito spray containing DEET, get rid of
stagnant water and avoid being outside at night, when mosquitoes are more active.”
According to Schwartz, horses with mosquito-borne encephalitic viruses, such as EEE,
Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) or West Nile Virus (WNV), may stagger, appear
confused, and act erratically. Owners are asked to contact their veterinarian immediately
if their equine animals exhibit clinical signs of these diseases.
“With the appropriate supportive care, about half of infected animals may be saved,” said
Dr. Schwartz. Although EEE, WEE and WNV are not regulatory diseases, they are
reportable to the TAHC and to the Texas Department of State Health Services, due to
their potential to cause human disease.
“Vaccines are readily available to protect equine animals against mosquito-borne
encephalitic diseases, but they must be given according to the manufacturer’s”
directions, and it takes at least a week to 10 days after vaccination for protective
antibodies to develop,” Schwartz said. “Booster shots also must be given as needed. Heed
your veterinarian’s advice. As good as vaccines are at protecting against infection, there
are rare times when a vaccinated animal will still contract disease, but that is no reason
to avoid vaccinating your animals.”
Schwartz noted that, in 2002, when West Nile Virus was first detected in Texas, 1,699
equine animals were stricken with infection. West Nile vaccine has helped cut those case
numbers from 716 in 2003 to only two cases in 2008.
“Vaccinating against mosquito-borne diseases has to be a part of routine equine health
care,” he said. “Don’t stop, just because case numbers drop.”