HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The New York State Department of Health has confirmed the presence of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in horses in Orange, Ulster, St. Lawrence, Madison, Oneida, Cayuga, Wayne and Washington counties.
A horse died of EEE in Orange County two weeks ago.
EEE is spread through mosquito bites and there is no risk of infected horses transmitting the virus to humans or other horses. There are currently no confirmed human cases in New York state, state health officials said.
“We have learned that horses have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus in several counties across the state,” state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a statement. “New Yorkers need to take proactive steps to avoid getting bitten by a mosquito and risking contracting this virus or other mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquitoes will be present in our communities through at least the end of September, so it’s important to know how to protect ourselves when spending time outdoors.”
EEE virus is considered one of the most serious mosquito-borne diseases in the United States because of its high mortality rate.
Like West Nile virus, EEE is transmitted by mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. However, EEE is more likely to affect horses and humans in areas where specific species of mosquitoes capable of spreading the virus are present.
EEE is less common than WNV but much more serious. It causes encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. Symptoms usually appear four to 10 days after a bite from an infected mosquito and can include sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting. The illness can progress to disorientation, seizures, and coma. People over 50 and under 15 are most at risk for severe cases.
EEE has a higher mortality rate than WNV, with about one in three infected people dying, and many survivors suffering mild to severe long-term brain damage, health officials said.
All suspected cases of viral encephalitis should be reported immediately.
Although horses can be vaccinated against EEE (and health officials have urged horse owners to make sure their animals are up to date on vaccinations against EEE, West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne viruses), there is no commercially available human vaccine against EEE.
The best protection is to avoid mosquito bites.
State officials gave the following advice:
- Consider wearing long sleeves and tucking your pants into your socks and your shirts into your pants when you’re outdoors at dusk or dawn, the time of day when mosquitoes are most active.
- Use insect repellents that contain DEET. You can find more information about insect repellents here. Be sure to follow the instructions on the insect repellent label. Children should not handle insect repellents directly. Instead, adults should apply the repellent to their own hands first and then gently spread it onto the child’s exposed skin. Avoid applying the product directly to children’s hands. Once indoors, wash your child’s treated skin and clothing with soap and water or give them a bath.
- Make sure that windows and doors in your home are equipped with mosquito nets. Make sure that the mosquito nets do not have any tears or holes.
- Remove any standing water in yards and around the home and property where mosquitoes can breed, including plastic containers, pool covers, wading pools, ceramic pots, clogged drains, toys, trash cans and wheelbarrows. Also change the water in birdbaths twice a week.
More information about Eastern Equine Encephalitis can be found here.
SEE: Equine encephalitis circulating, one horse dies
