Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a mosquito-borne viral disease that primarily affects horses. The disease, also called "sleeping sickness,” causes inflammation or swelling of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include impaired vision, aimless wandering, head pressing, circling, inability to swallow, irregular staggering gait, paralysis, convulsions and death. Once a horse has been bitten by an infected mosquito, it may take three to 10 days for signs of the disease to appear.
Prevention is a key part of equine health. The disease is preventable by vaccination, as is West Nile Virus, so many veterinarians recommend vaccination at least yearly, and in mosquito-prone areas, every six months. Control the population of mosquitoes on your property by eliminating watery breeding sites.
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