Several Eastern states including Maine and Massachusetts are warning that the potential for more infectious diseases such as West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis are high because of the weather and the presence of mosquitoes.
More mosquitoes - more infectious diseases in horses and people
Eastern states including Maine and Massachusetts are warning that the potential for more infectious diseases such as West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis are high because of the weather and the presence of mosquitoes.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is warning health care providers and veterinarians to be on the lookout for EEE and West Nile. Although relatively rare, these serious infectious diseases that affect horses and people tend to crop up this time of year, according to State Epidemologist, Dr. Stephen Sears.
These two deadly diseases spread by the bites of mosquitoes are on the rise in the North Eastern United States.
The normal geographical distribution of EEE cases in horses occurs east of the Mississippi River, typically including the coastal states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina and South Carolina.Cases have occurred in the midwestern states of Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
EEE virus attacks the central nervous system and unvaccinated horses are very susceptible to the infection. The disease appears within five days after a mosquito transmits the virus to the horse. Onset of clinical symptoms are abrupt and infected horses often die within three days.
West Nile virus is caused by a virus that is harbored in birds and spread via mosquitoes to other birds, people, and horses. Most birds do not develop the disease, although crows and blue jays often die as a result of infection with the virus. Horses and people are known as dead-end hosts because no evidence shows cases of the disease being spread to other humans or animals.
Prevention of West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis
The best prevention is controlling mosquitoes to prevent infected mosquitoes from biting the horse. Mosquito breeding areas should be removed by clearing away any potential sources of water in which mosquitoes can breed. This includes old tires, clogged roof drains, wading pools, wheelbarrows, bird baths, empty containers of all kinds, unused or neglected swimming pools and spas, puddles left after rainfall, neglected water troughs, or any other items or areas where water might become trapped.
Steps should be taken to limit the horses' exposure to mosquitoes by keeping them indoors during peak mosquito activity periods, such as dawn and dusk. Stalls should be screened whenever possible and fans installed over horses to help deter mosquitos.