Newsdate: Thu, 20 Sep 2012 - 08:32 am
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According to official reports, five horses from five different counties in Georgia have died recently from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). No human cases of EEE have been reported within the pub­lic health district.

Horses and humans - Dead end hosts

Five horses from five different counties in Georgia have died recently from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).

EEE, com­monly known as sleep­ing sick­ness in horses, is caused by a virus car­ried by infected mos­qui­toes. EEE is a type of encephali­tis, a gen­eral term mean­ing an acute inflam­ma­tion involv­ing parts of the brain, spinal cord and meninges.

The virus that causes EEE can be trans­mit­ted to humans and ani­mals when they are bit­ten by infected mos­qui­toes. The virus is not trans­mit­ted from animal-to-animal, animal-to-human or human-to-human.

Since this is a virus, there is no spe­cific treat­ment once the ani­mal or the per­son devel­ops encephali­tis. There is a vac­cine avail­able to help pre­vent the devel­op­ment of EEE in horses, but there is no vac­cine avail­able for people.

The first symp­toms of EEE peo­ple may expe­ri­ence are: high fever (103° to 106°F), stiff neck, headache and lack of energy. These symp­toms show two to 10 days after infec­tion. Swelling of the brain, called encephali­tis, is the most dan­ger­ous symp­tom. The dis­ease pro­gresses quickly.

A resident also has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV), according to officials with the Southeast Health District. Public Health is strongly urging residents to take precautions to protect against mosquito bites and the possible spread of mosquito-borne illnesses, such as WNV and EEE.

“The most effec­tive actions we can take to pro­tect against mos­qui­toes are to reduce their breed­ing areas and to use mos­quito repel­lant on our­selves,” said Dwain Butler, Southeast Health District Environmental Health Director.

“Pour out stag­nant water in bird­baths, pet dishes, old tires and any other recep­ta­cle in which mos­qui­toes might breed. This will greatly reduce mos­quito populations,”Butler said.

Residents should also check and repair win­dows and doors that have screens. This will help pre­vent mos­qui­toes from get­ting inside your home.