Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE):

 EEE is caused by a virus that infects the brain resulting in encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and neurologic symptoms. This virus is transmitted via a mosquito bite. Birds, horses and also people can become infected. This disease is usually fatal in horses- with a 90% mortality rate! There is a vaccine available for horses. In Wisconsin, we recommend annual vaccination in the spring- before the start of "mosquito season". If a horse hasn't been vaccinated previously, a series of two vaccines are recommended, given 3-4 weeks apart. Vaccination against EEE is part of our "spring vaccination protocol". It is given as a combination vaccine with WEE (Western Equine Encephalitis), tetanus, and usually also West Nile Virus (WNV). WEE and WNV infections are also caused by viruses which are transmitted via a mosquito. Tetanus is the minimum vaccine every horse should get once a year (plus boostered if having surgery or has a puncture/wound). If your horse was given "spring vaccines" from us, s/he likely received a vaccine that included EEE. If you have any questions regarding your horse's vaccines, please call us at 262-269-2439. If your horse has not been vaccinated against EEE, we strongly recommend it, especially with the recent cases in Northern Wisconsin. Migrating birds can readily spread the virus to new areas. Once there is a killing frost and mosquitoes are less likely to be around, the risk of infection goes down. However, next spring the risk will increase again when mosquitoes increase in numbers & can spread the disease from infected birds to horses. Getting your horse boostered for all of the mosquito-spread viruses each spring is recommended to help protect your horse from these potentially deadly diseases.

    For more information on EEE and the cases in Northern Wisconsin, click on EEE in Wisconsin.