Jackson County horse positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Floridan Staff Report
Published: April 30, 2008

The following information was released by Bill Dean, Environmental Health Director and Public Information Officer for the Jackson County Health Department:

Horse Found to be Positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Alford:  The Jackson County Health Department received positive laboratory results from a horse located East of Alford in Jackson County.  The horse was infected with Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), which is transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes. 
According to Bill Dean, Environmental Health Director, “this is the first animal in Jackson County reported positive for an arbovirus this year.  Residents are reminded that arboviral illness in humans is totally preventable by avoiding mosquito bites” he continued.

The state monitors animals as sentinels for arboviruses, including Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus, West Nile (WN) virus and St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus, to determine if any of those three viruses are present in the community. 

The Florida Departments of Health (DOH) and Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), along with other state and local agencies, are working to detect the viruses spread by mosquitoes to humans or animals. Mosquito-borne infections in people can cause headache, fever, dizziness, confusion, movement disorders and coma. 

For more information on mosquito-borne diseases, please visit DOH’s Environmental Health web site http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/arboviral/index.html , the CDC web site http://www.cdc.gov, call the West Nile Virus Hotline at 1-888-880-5782, or contact your local county health department. 

Additionally, information on arboviruses can be found at the FDACS’ web site, http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/ai/, or by calling (850) 410-0900.