Rare Communicable Brain Disease Found in Horses in Arkansas

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Cases of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) have been confirmed in Arkansas in horses at two separate locations in Pulaski County, according to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.

EEE is an extremely rare but serious and fatal infection that causes encephalitis, an acute inflammation of the brain. The disease is spread by biting insects, primarily mosquitoes and flies that have bitten birds infected with the EEE virus (EEEV). Insect control and vaccination are the recommended preventative measures.

EEE can infect a wide range of animals other than horses, including other mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. While humans can also contract the disease through biting insects, they cannot get the disease through direct contact with an infected animal.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/09/rare-communicable-brain-disease-found-in-horses-in-arkansas/