The Florida Department of Health in Marion County reissued its prevention message for Florida’s residents and visitors to protect themselves against eastern equine encephalitis after confirmed cases in northern Marion County near Micanopy.
Preventing cases of eastern equine encephalitis
Three horses in the Micanopy area of northwestern Marion County recently tested positive for the eastern equine encephalitis virus.
Three horses in the Micanopy area of northwestern Marion County, Florida, recently tested positive for the eastern equine encephalitis virus.
“While the chance of humans contracting EEE is low, we still need to take precautions against mosquito bites,” said Dan Dooley, Environmental Health administrator at the Florida Department of Health in Marion County. “These precautions will be important to limiting the spread of mosquito-borne diseases to humans.”
Mosquito-borne infections such as EEE can cause headache, fever, dizziness, confusion, movement disorders and coma. Physicians should contact the local county health department if they suspect an individual may have a mosquito-borne illness.
Horse and livestock owners should contact their veterinarians about vaccinations against mosquito borne diseases.
There is no human vaccine for preventing EEE. The best defense against these viruses is prevention. The best preventive measure for residents living in areas infested with mosquitoes that carry an EEE virus is to eliminate the places where the mosquito lays her eggs, primarily artificial containers that hold water.