Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis, equines - USA
(LA)
EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS, EQUINES - USA
(LOUISIANA) *********************************************** A ProMED-mail
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Eastern equine
encephalitis may have killed 7
horses --------------------------------------------- 7 horses have died of
encephalitis, and 2 have been confirmed as having Eastern equine
encephalitis, state Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom said. He said that one
was from Calcasieu Parish and the others "from the swampy areas in the
northern part of DeSoto Parish near Stonewall."
"We are asking all
horse owners to make sure their animals have up-to-date vaccinations and to
consult a veterinarian if their horses are displaying any signs," Odom
said.
Eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, is a more dangerous virus than
West Nile. Horses that get it almost always die, or have brain damage,
and it kills 30 percent of human encephalitis patients, compared to about 7
percent for West Nile.
Mosquitoes carry both viruses from birds to horses
and people, so precautions are the same for both: vaccination of horses, and
anti-mosquito measures for people, such as wearing long-sleeved shirts
and long pants.
Odom said that he has been working with state Senator
Sherri Smith Cheek to find resources to control the mosquito that carries
EEE. The department's boll weevil eradication equipment has been fitted with
special nozzles to apply pesticide to likely mosquito habitats, he
said.
State Veterinarian Maxwell Lea said horses that have not been
vaccinated should have 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart. After that, a
booster shot each year is enough. Lea said that his office is awaiting
test results on the other horses.
Infected horses usually have a fever 6
to 7 degrees above the normal 100 to 102 Fahrenheit. They look sleepy, walk
in circles, and appear depressed and uncoordinated. Eventually they
collapse.
[Late
summer and early autumn, depending upon the geographical location, is
usually when we start to see outbreaks of EEE. The vaccination for this
virus should be in combination with vaccination for West Nile virus, so
owners can protect their horses with a vaccination against both diseases, as
well Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis and Western Equine Encephalitis. -
Mod.TG]
[see also: Eastern equine encephalitis, human, equine - USA
(MA)(02) 20040911.2530 Eastern equine encephalitis, human, equine - USA
(MA) 20040906.2494 Eastern equine encephalitis, human - USA (MA)
20040820.2316 Eastern equine encephalitis - USA (Eastern): horses,
chickens 20040806.2151 Eastern equine encephalitis, equine - USA
(VA) 20040801.2097 Eastern equine encephalitis, equine - USA (AL)
20040704.1794 2000 ---- Eastern equine encephalitis, human - USA
(Louisiana): correction 20000515.0759 Eastern equine encephalitis - USA
(Louisiana) 20000510.0714 Eastern equine encephalitis - USA (Texas):
alert 20000420.0575 1999 ---- Eastern equine encephalitis, emus -
USA (Louisiana) 19990621.1054 Eastern equine encephalitis, horse - USA
(Louisiana) 19990521.0834 Eastern equine encephalitis - USA
(Louisiana)
19990519.0823] ...........................jw/tg/msp/lm
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