Horses falling to mosquito-born disease

By KATE McCARDELL KERN / Floridan Staff Report
Published: July 3, 2008

Data provided by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says 45 cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in horses have been confirmed so far this year.

Four of those cases occurred in Jackson County, with two of those reported just Thursday afternoon, according to T.G.  Harkrider Jr., environmental supervisor at the Jackson County Health Department.

Harkrider said that, of the two Jackson County cases reported Thursday, one occurred in Grand Ridge near McLane Road and the other by Chason Road near Marianna.

The horse off McLane Road is so far the only surviving horse of the four to be reported this year in the county.

“The season is beginning to peak. I just found out that we do now meet criteria for a mosquito born illnesses advisory with the number of cases we’ve had,” said Harkrider.

In a recent news release, FACS Commissioner Charles Bronson urged horse owners to “get their animals vaccinated as the number of EEE cases are on the rise.”

“As of June 30, there are four times as many cases as there were during the same time period in the two previous years.  There have been 45 confirmed cases covering 21 counties as far south as Palm Beach County.  In the first six months of 2007, there were 11 cases and the same number in 2006,” the news release said.

Confirmed cases of EEE in horses have also been reported in neighboring counties.

According to FACS data, four cases occurred in Holmes County and five cases were reported out of Washington County.

Bronson said that, with a rainy season ahead, the amount of mosquitoes is likely to be higher that in that last to years, which consisted of drought.

“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 percent of the cases.  The first case of West Nile Virus has also been detected in a horse in Madison County,” said the news release.

Bronson said that most EEE cases can be prevented through vaccination.

He said EEE can also be contracted by people and is often deadly.

The news release offered steps to prevention the transmittal of EEE to humans:

• Limit time outside during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

• Wear light colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants to cover skin and reduce the chance of being bitten when outside between dusk and dawn.

• Eliminate standing water in yards, such as in birdbaths, kiddie pools, old tires and other receptacles, as stagnant water is an excellent breeding ground for mosquitoes.

• Use insect repellent that contains DEET, which is an effective repellent.

• Keep window screens in good repair.

• Clean out rain gutters and keep them unclogged to avoid pockets of standing water.