A female horse in Virginia had to be euthanized after testing positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus.
The 13-year-old quarter horse was euthanized on Aug. 7 after she had begun showing neurological symptoms.
The horse was reported to have been under-vaccinated, but none of the other horses were infected.
EEE can have a mortality rate of up to 90 percent while the mortality rate for West Nile Virus is between 30-40 percent in horses.
Here are some tips for preventing EEE:
- Avoid mosquito bites
- Mosquito-proof homes
- Vaccinate horses annually
- Use approved insect repellents on horses.
- Put horses in stables, stalls or barns during dusk and dawn if possible