First-ever Texas cases of mosquito-borne illness found in East Texas horses

HOUSTON COUNTY, Texas ( KETK ) – The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) confirmed on Monday that the first-ever cases of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in Texas were found in two Houston County horses.

According to a release, the TAHC recommends horse owners consider vaccinating their horses from EEE, western equine encephalitis (WEE), Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) and west Nile virus (WNV).

TAHC said that these diseases are “caused by alphaviruses and can cause severe brain inflammation in equine,” and that EEE is commonly found in the eastern US and Canada.

TAHC explained that EEE may cause horses to suddenly die or show the following symptoms:

• Moderate to high fever of 102.5-104.5
• Severe depression, known as “sleeping sickness”
• Behavior changes
• Impaired vision
• Circling or head pressing
• Muscle twitches
• Inability to swallow
• Paralysis
• Convulsions

More information on the diseases and their symptoms can be found on the THAC website .

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