Ashley Hunter
Greene Publishing, Inc.
While the world is still concerned about Zika and safeguarding themselves against the mosquitoes that carry it, another reminder to the possible dangers of mosquitoes has popped back up.
Early in July, two cases of the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV) appeared in Jefferson County. Following the discovery of the cases, the Jefferson County Department of Health placed the county under a health advisory. In response, the Madison County Department of Health says there have been no recorded cases of the EEEV in Madison County. With the disease so close to home, however, it could easily spread and citizens should be aware of both the disease and ways to prevent man and horse from contracting the virus.
EEEV is a disease that can be contracted by mosquitoes, who in turn bite a human or horse. As with many of the mosquito-borne diseases that humans can contract, the symptoms and outcomes can range from mild to severe. Most individuals can be infected with no apparent illness. However, EEEV is also one of the most severe mosquito transmitted diseases in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) with a roughly estimated 33 percent of mortality and significant brain damage in most survivors of an intense case. Severe cases may bring the sudden onset of a headache, high fever, chills and vomiting. As the illness progresses, a contractee may begin to experience disorientation, seizures or coma. There is also no specific treatment for EEEV.
Horses that contract EEEV often experience a mild case before their symptoms quickly turn severe.
The first signs for EEEV in horses are nonspecific and often include a mild to severe fever that lasts up to 24 to 28 hours, poor appetite and stiffness.
After an incubation period of one to three weeks, the disease again begins to progress with signs of propulsive walking, depression and somnolence before it turns into aggression and excitability.
Some horses become frenzied after any stimulation.
Later signs for the disease include increased severity of brain dysfunction, including head pressing, propulsive walking, blindness, circling, head tilt and facial and limb muscle trembling and twitching. Other common signs are paralysis of the pharynx, larynx and tongue. Defecation and urination become difficult for the ill animal. Eventually, complete paralysis and death is the outcome after the animal lies down and can no longer get up. Animals that reach comatose rarely survive.
While EEEV does not have a identified treatment, there are ways to protect both yourself and your horse from contracting the disease.
Keep up to date on your horses’ vaccinations and vaccinate them per your vet's instructions for both EEEV and West Nile virus. Use insect repellants to prevent being bitten. Avoid outdoor activities at dusk or dawn. If you must be outside during those hours, wear long sleeves and pants in addition to using repellant. Also, refrain from turning horses out at dawn and dusk, as those are the periods when mosquitos are most active; just as you don't want to be swarmed, neither does your animal. In barns, use fans to prevent mosquitoes from traveling into the buildings, as they are poor at flying against the wind. Remove stagnant water around the yard and keep your horses' water clean. Old tires, kiddie pools, bird baths, buckets and wheelbarrows are breeding grounds for mosquitos. If possible, drill holes into the bottom of buckets or pots that must remain outdoors and frequently collect unwanted water. During summer months, empty and scrub out water troughs once a week to dump out breeding larvae, contact the Madison County Health Department at (850) 973-1500 or the Mosquito Control office at (850) 973-6495 to look into larvicides that have been approved by the Environmental Protection Act. Fill in ditches or holes that tend to gather stale, stagnant water.
Use common sense when it comes to mosquitoes and your chances of seeing EEEV in yourself or animals is far less likely to take place.