Horse in Vienna euthanized after testing positive for EEE virus

VIENNA, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — A yearling horse in the Town of Vienna had to be euthanized after its blood tested positive for the EEE virus.

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but serious disease transmitted from infected mosquitoes to horses and humans. The virus was detected this summer as well in the towns of Sullivan and Cicero.

There have been no human cases of EEE in the U.S. this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Still, the Oneida County Health Department (OCHD) urges people to stay safe, as there is no human vaccine for EEE. The county’s health director, Dr. Dan Gilmore, recommends using insect repellant and wearing long clothes when being outdoors during dawn and dusk, as well as to remove any standing water in the home.

The horse in Vienna developed neurological symptoms on Aug. 27. A day later, a lab at Cornell found the horse’s blood sample positive for EEE. The horse was euthanized; it was up to date on its vaccinations.

Neurological symptoms of EEE in horses include profound depression, unusual head-pressing or circling, blindness, difficulty swallowing, tremors, and seizures.

The OCHD has water-soluble mosquito pouches for those living in the county available for pick-up at their office at the Adirondack Bank in Utica.

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