Equine Encephalitis

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Equine Encephalitis

• By Anne Blanda and Ashley Wheeler

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What is it?

• Equine horse
• Encephal brain
• -itis inflammation

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Eastern Equine Encephalitis

• Rare but serious viral disease
• Effects people and horses
• Mosquitoes Culiseta melanura
• Range Southeastern Canada to Southeastern U.S.
• No specific treatment for people
• Vaccines available for horses

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How is it spread?
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Western Equine Encephalitis

• Found in plains regions of Western Central
  United States.
• WEE virus is an arobovirus
• Mosquitoes Culex Tarsalis
• Can cause from no symptoms to a fatal disease.
• No antibiotics or effective anti-viral drugs.
• Since 1964 there has been 639 reported cases.

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Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis

• Recognized in the early 1930s
• Mosquitoes Culex, Mansonia, Aedes, and
  Psorophora species
• Range Equatorial South Africa and Central
  America

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Symptoms

• Mild Symptoms
• Mild fever
• Headache
• Nausea
• Body ache
• Restlessness

• Serious Symptoms
• Seizures
• High fever
• Coma
• Weight loss
• Weakness
• Changes in mental state
• Stiff neck
• Tremors
• Paralysis
• Vision loss
• Numbness

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How can you prevent it?

• Quarantine infected animals
• Prevention is based on public health actions to
  control mosquitoes.
• Officials take pesticides EPA approved and spread
  them in affected areas.
• Eliminate breeding habits and standing water.
• Reduce adult mosquitoes population
• To avoid being bitten by mosquitoes
• Stay inside between dusk and dark
• Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts
• Use mosquito repellents

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Sources

• www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/info
  _equv.htm
• www.chastate.md.us/edcp/factsheets/eeefact.html
• www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/easte
  rn_equine_encephalitis/fact_sheet.htm
• http//wdhfs.state.wy.us/vector_borne/western.htm
• www.extension.unh.edu/news/EENH.htm
• www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic886.htm
• www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs.fsvee.html
• www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/mosquitoes/malathion
  4mosquitoes.htm