HOUSTON COUNTY, Texas — Texas' first reported cases of eastern equine encephalitis, a potentially deadly mosquito-borne illness, have been found in two Houston County horses.
The Texas Animal Health Commission announced the findings through an alert released on Monday. The commission encouraged veterinarians and horse owners to consider vaccinating their horses against mosquito-borne illnesses like EEE, western equine encephalitis (WEE), Venezuelan equine encephalitis and West Nile Virus.
General disease information and how to protect horses from mosquito-borne diseases of equine species can be found on the TAHC website.
EEE, WEE and VEE can all cause severe brain inflammation in equine. The viruses are high among birds and rodents, and unvaccinated horses are particularly susceptible.
Eastern equine encephalitis is commonly found in the eastern United States and Canada, the TAHC said.
Clinical Signs of infection include:
- Moderate to high fever 102.5 to 104.5 F
- Severe depression, known as “sleeping sickness”
- Behavior changes
- Impaired vision
- Circling or head pressing
- Muscle twitches
- Inability to swallow
- Paralysis
- Convulsions
- Death
Owners and producers who suspect EEE, WEE, or VEE should contact their private veterinarian for evaluation. Confirmed diagnosis or suspected cases have to reported to the TAHC at 1-800-550-8242.
People are only susceptible when bitten by an infected mosquito, but direct horse-to-horse or horse-to-human transmission is rare, according to the TAHC.
The TAHC said vaccination is very effective at preventing clinical disease.