2009 PRESS RELEASES
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August 27, 2009
ADDITIONAL CASES OF EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS IN VIRGINIA BRING TOTAL TO EIGHT HORSES AND AN EMU, AND SUSPECT CASES IN A GOAT AND ALPACA
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Contact: Elaine J. Lidholm, 804.786.7686
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has confirmed two more positive cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in horses for 2009, bringing the total statewide to eight. Most cases have been in the Tidewater area with one from Loudoun County. The Loudoun horse was a 28-year-old female Pony with multiple medical problems, including kidney disease. The case in Loudoun is unusual. Normally cases of EEE are located within or close to the Tidewater area of Virginia.
The other new equine case is a seven-year-old female Miniature Horse from Southampton County. Neither horse had been vaccinated for EEE. The Loudoun horse was euthanized, but at last report, the Southampton horse was still alive. An 11-year-old female alpaca from Surry County also tested positive for EEE but recovered on her own. VDACS considers this a presumptive case of EEE, along with a goat from Chesapeake that died last month.
To date there have been three equine cases of EEE in Chesapeake, two in Suffolk, and one each in Loudoun, Prince George, and Southampton Counties.
“EEE is a serious condition,” explained Dr. Richard Wilkes, State Veterinarian, “and unlike West Nile Virus, few horses survive the disease. There is no cure, but there are effective vaccines. So far this year, all of the positive EEE horses had not been vaccinated or hadn’t been vaccinated recently for the disease. With a rainy spring and summer and an increase in the mosquito population, I’m not surprised that we’re seeing an increase in the incidents of EEE, but I am disappointed that horse owners in the high risk areas of the state are not vaccinating.”
VDACS encourages horse owners to vaccinate their horses every six to twelve months against EEE. This is particularly important in the Southeastern region of Virginia, where many veterinarians recommend the six-month vaccination interval. Vaccination includes an initial shot, with a booster six weeks later, then boosters every six to twelve months. Vaccinations must be administered correctly and in a timely fashion to be effective. There is no vaccine for goats or emus.
Generally, EEE is transmitted by mosquitoes. Prevention methods besides vaccination that help to protect all species include destroying standing water breeding sites for mosquitoes, use of insect repellents such as DEET, and removing animals from mosquito-infested areas during peak biting times, usually dusk to dawn.
For more information on EEE in animals, consumers should contact the Office of the State Veterinarian at 804.692.0601 or consult their local veterinarians.