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Equine encephalitis found in Denton County horse
By Penny Rathbun, Staff writer
Two horses in Texas, one of them in Denton County, have been diagnosed with Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The Denton County horse had been vaccinated.
According to information from the Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas is one of seven states where EEE has been reported this year in horses.
The disease is spread by infected mosquitoes and can be transmitted to humans.
Horses with mosquito-borne encephalitic viruses such as EEE, Western Equine Encephalitis, or West Nile Virus may stagger, appear confused, and act erratically.
“The disease is not so much killing the horse, it’s what it may cause the horse to do, (such as) fall over or fall asleep while drinking and drown,” said Dr. Dean Hansen, of the Little Elm Breezeway Animal Clinic.
He added that the best way to fight EEE is to prevent it by vaccinating horses in the spring. It takes at least 10 days after vaccination for protective antibodies to develop. Booster shots also must be given as needed.
Hansen also said the best thing humans can do to avoid getting the disease is to observe the usual precautions against mosquitoes n wear long sleeves, use insect repellent and get rid of stagnant water.
TAHC information officer Carla Everett advised horse owners to call their veterinarian for advice on protecting their horses and themselves against mosquito-borne diseases. “It’s a small price to save a valuable and valued animal,” Everett said.
In 2002 when West Nile Virus was first detected in Texas, 1,699 equine animals were stricken with infection. West Nile vaccine has helped cut those case numbers from 716 in 2003 to two cases in 2008.
“Vaccinating against mosquito-borne diseases has to be a part of routine equine health care. Don’t stop just because case numbers drop,” Schwartz said.
“As good as vaccines are at protecting against infection, there are rare times when a vaccinated animal will still contract disease. That is no reason to avoid vaccinating your animals,” he added.
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