Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is urging horse owners to vaccinate their animals against Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV) as the mosquito-breeding season begins in North Carolina.
“EEE is fatal 90 percent of the time in horses and WNV has a fatality rate of 30 percent. However, both diseases are preventable by vaccination,” Troxler said. He noted that no cases have been reported this year, but last year saw five cases of EEE and two of WNV.
State Veterinarian Dr. Mike Martin advises equine owners to consult veterinarians for an effective vaccination protocol. For horses, mules, and donkeys with no prior vaccination, multiple injections are required.
Owners can mitigate mosquito exposure by eliminating standing water, stalling horses at night, using insect screens and repellents, and turning off lights after dusk.
Symptoms of EEE include impaired vision, head pressing, and paralysis, while WNV symptoms include fever and limb weakness. Infected individuals may experience symptoms 3 to 10 days after being bitten by a mosquito.
All animals are encouraged to stay up to date on equine infectious anemia testing and rabies vaccinations, especially following a case of rabies in livestock earlier this year. “We have had a positive case of rabies in livestock already this year. All livestock are naturally curious animals, which puts them at risk for a bite if a rabid animal gets through their fence line,” Troxler said.
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