The staff at Michigan Large Animal Associates understands there may be concerns in our area for Eastern Equine Encephalitis and wanted to share some facts regarding the care and protection of your horses and donkeys.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis is a virus spread to horses through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The Clinical signs develop rapidly, usually 3-5 days from infection. Unvaccinated horses are especially sensitive and fatality rates are >90% .
Protection is provided through vaccination annually in the spring with a vaccine containing EEE and WEE components. Often these are combined with tetanus and West Nile Virus. These vaccines have proven to be very effective in preventing disease and can be boostered on a 4-6 month basis should an outbreak occur in our region. Young or unvaccinated horses should receive a first vaccine and have a second booster vaccine 3 to 4 weeks later.
Symptoms of EEE include:
Fever
Behavior changes such as sleepiness, excitability and or aggression
Blindness
Weak or staggering gait
Recumbency (not able to stand)
Michigan Large Animal Associates, P.C. 