Morning Ag Clips logo
  • Subscribe ❯
  • PORTAL ❯
  • LOGIN ❯
  • By Keyword
  • By topic
  • By state
  • Home
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Store
  • Advertise
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Subscribe to our
    daily email
    ❯
  • Portal Registration❯
  • Login❯
  • policy
  • tractors & machinery
  • education
  • conservation
  • webinars
  • business
  • dairy
  • cattle
  • poultry
  • swine
  • corn
  • soybeans
  • organic
  • specialty crops
  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Morning Ag Clips

  • By Keyword
  • By topic
  • By state
  • policy
  • tractors & machinery
  • education
  • conservation
  • webinars
  • business
  • dairy
  • cattle
  • poultry
  • swine
  • corn
  • soybeans
  • organic
  • specialty crops
  • Home
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Store
  • Advertise
Home » Eastern Equine Encephalitis confirmed in three Pa. counties
EEE ... Comments

Eastern Equine Encephalitis confirmed in three Pa. counties

Cases confirmed in Erie, Carbon, and Monroe counties

PUBLISHED ON September 22, 2019

The Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture and Health today warned Pennsylvanians to take precautionary measures against mosquito bites for themselves and their animals – specifically horses – as the rare mosquito-transmitted viral infection Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has been confirmed in Erie, Carbon, and Monroe counties. (photo by pam & tom holmes, creative commons/flickr.com)

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture and Health today warned Pennsylvanians to take precautionary measures against mosquito bites for themselves and their animals – specifically horses – as the rare mosquito-transmitted viral infection Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has been confirmed in Erie, Carbon, and Monroe counties.

EEE is a virus carried by birds. If a mosquito bites an infected bird it can then transmit the potentially fatal virus to humans, horses, and other birds. Because of the high mortality rate in horses and humans, EEE is regarded as one of the most serious mosquito-borne diseases in the United States. Through mid-September, there have been 18 cases reported to the CDC from across the country in 2019, with the majority of the cases in northeastern or Mid-Atlantic states. Several cases have been fatal.

When outdoors, people can avoid mosquito bites by properly and consistently using DEET-containing insect repellents and covering exposed skin with lightweight clothing. To keep mosquitoes from entering a home, make sure window and door screens are in place and are in good condition.

Homeowners should take steps to eliminate standing water around their property to reduce mosquito populations. Here are some simple steps you can take:

  • Remove tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, discarded tires or any object that could collect standing water. Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers left outdoors.
  • Have roof gutters cleaned annually, particularly if leaves from nearby trees have a tendency to clog the drains.
  • Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
  • Do not let water stagnate in bird baths.
  • Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish.
  • Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and remove standing water from pool covers.
  • Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property.
  • Treat standing water that cannot be eliminated with Bti products, which are sold at outdoor supply, home improvement, and other stores. Bti is a natural product that kills mosquito larvae, but is safe for people, pets, aquatic life and plants.

The symptoms of EEE are:

  • High fever (103º to 106ºF),
  • Stiff neck,
  • Headache, and
  • Lack of energy.

These symptoms typically show up three to ten days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Inflammation and swelling of the brain, called encephalitis, can develop. The disease gets worse quickly, and some patients could end up in a coma within a week. This disease can also be fatal, as three out of every ten people who get the disease die from it.

In addition to taking precautions to eliminate standing water on their properties, horse owners are encouraged to proactively vaccinate against both EEE and West Nile Virus, keep animals indoors at night, and spray for mosquitoes. Vaccines for Eastern, Western, Venezuelan, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis are available from veterinarians.

The onset of symptoms in horses starts with a fever that may reach as high as 106 º F for one to two days. Additional symptoms can include:

  • Abnormal gait
  • Aimless wandering
  • Circling
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Drooping ears
  • Drowsiness
  • Head pressing
  • Hyperactivity
  • Inability to swallow
  • Paralysis
  • Restlessness
  • Sensitivity to sound
  • Death

Pennsylvania’s recently confirmed cases include a wild turkey, pheasants, and horses. Pennsylvanians are encouraged to take every precaution to protect against this rare, neurological disease and immediately contact their physician or veterinarian if symptoms present.

For more information visit health.pa.gov or agriculture.pa.gov.

–Shannon Powers, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Click Here to find out more about your favorite topics

horses

Spread the word

Browse More Clips

dairy cow (Tobias Nordhausen, Flickr/Creative Commons)

DCRC meeting offers RACE & ARPAS credits

Wolf Administration joins 'Farm Town Strong' to fight rural opioid misuse

Primary Sidebar

MORE

PENNSYLVANIA CLIPS

Horizon Farm Credit announces 2022 second quarter financial results
August 9, 2022
Come celebrate 30th Kiddy Tractor Pull at Harford Fair
August 9, 2022
Chester County 4-H Fair
August 9, 2022
Twilight Tour and Ag Safety Event – August 18
August 9, 2022
3rd Annual Native Tree & Shrub Fundraiser
August 9, 2022
  • Trending
  • Latest

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

NDSU Bison Strides hosts fall equine-assisted services programs
August 9, 2022
Family fun equine experiences this August
August 8, 2022
KEEP Foundation at Hats Off Day
August 7, 2022
University of Kentucky Ag Equine Programs will host a Pastures Please!! pasture maintenance workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. EST, Jan. 22, at the Scott County Extension office, located at 1130 Cincinnati Road in Georgetown. (Courtesy of University of Kentucky)
Maryland Horse Industry Board accepting 2023 grant applications
August 2, 2022
Equine Infectious Anemia found in three SC horses
July 31, 2022

Footer

MORNING AG CLIPS

  • Sponsors
  • About Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Customer & Technical Support

CONNECT WITH US

  • Like Us on Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

TRACK YOUR TRADE

  • Markets & Economy
  • Cattle Updates
  • Dairy News
  • Policy & Politics
  • Corn Alerts

QUICK LINKS

  • Account
  • Portal Membership
  • Invite Your Friends
  • Subscribe to RSS
  • WeatherTrends
  • Just Me, Kate

© 2022 Morning Ag Clips, LLC. All Rights Reserved.