First Eastern equine encephalitis case of 2010 occurs in Florida

The Marion County Health Department in Florida has confirmed the first positive case of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in 2010. It was present in a horse in the northwest area of the county. The season for EEE is starting early this year. Horse owners, please vaccinate your animals.

EEE is a mosquito-borne virus that can be transmitted to humans and horses by the bite of an infected mosquito. The Health Department advises the public to remain diligent in mosquito protection efforts, including the "5 D's" for prevention:

• Dusk and dawn: avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active

• dress: wear clothing that covers skin

• DEET: repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or

• N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) are recommended as are picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus

• drainage: check homes to rid areas of standing water where mosquitoes can lay eggs

Eastern equine encephalitis is a mosquito virus that in horses is very preventable with a vaccine. Several of the encephalitides are combined into one vaccination. A vaccination includes West Nile virus, Eastern and Western equine encephalitis, and often tetanus.

Although the vaccine needs to be repeated in about three weeks for the animal to develop complete immunity, it takes very little to protect the horse. There are vaccinations available with different combinations than those listed above. If a horse develops EEE, it is not contagious to other horses or to humans. It is the mosquito that transmits the virus.

Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare illness in humans, and only a few cases are reported in the United States each year. In those cases that do occur, they are generally located in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states (see map at http://www.cdc.gov/easternequineencephalitis/tech/epi.html#map.)

Most persons infected with EEEV have no apparent illness. Severe cases of EEE (involving encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain) begin with the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting. The illness may then progress into disorientation, seizures, or coma. EEE is one of the most severe mosquito-transmitted diseases in the United States with approximately 33 percent mortality and significant brain damage in most survivors. There is no specific treatment for EEE; care is based on symptoms. You can reduce your risk of being infected with EEEV by using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and staying indoors while mosquitoes are most active. If you think you or a family member may have EEE, it is important to consult your healthcare provider for proper diagnosis.

Portions of this comment have been extracted from http://www.cdc.gov/easternequineencephalitis.