The Lincoln County Health Department reports that a horse in Lincoln County has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The report comes after two human cases of disease this year in Eau Claire County and Chippewa Counties. There have also been reports of several other EEE cases in horses in northern and western regions of Wisconsin.
EEE virus is spread to humans, horses, and other animals through the bite of an infected mosquito, which pick up the disease by feeding on infected birds. The virus is not spread person to person or directly between animals or between animals and humans. Presence of a EEE positive horse confirms that there are mosquitoes in the area infected with the EEE virus that can spread the virus to people and other animals.
Even though temperatures have cooled off, as long as mosquitoes are active, the risk of EEE and other illnesses spread by mosquitoes can continue through much of the fall. Since EEE virus is known to be circulating in Lincoln County, the health department urges people to be vigilant in preventing mosquito bites.
Many people infected with EEE virus do not get sick, but it can cause serious illness in some cases. Those who do become ill may develop fever, headache, chills, and vomiting. Severe illness can cause The illness may become severe resulting in encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), disorientation, seizures, coma, or death. There is no specific vaccine or treatment for EEE illness available for people.
Signs of EEE infection in horses include depression, loss of appetite, drooping eyelids and lower lip, blindness, paralysis, and death. Horse owners can vaccinate their horses against EEE virus to protect them from becoming ill.
