Deadly mosquito disease found in Mobile County

MOBILE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries has confirmed two positive cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis detected in horses in both Mobile and Covington Counties.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis, or EEE is a mosquito-transmitted disease that is more severe than the West Nile Virus.

Dr. Zach Nettles works at First Equine Veterinary Services and says because of the rain on the Gulf Coast the virus is more prevalent here.

“Mosquitoes love rain, they love water,” Dr. Nettles said.

They see three to six cases of EEE a year.

Dr. Nettles says a vaccination every six months is the best way to prevent the disease.

According to the CDC, horses that are not vaccinated have a 90% chance of dying from EEE.

“Generally, within 48 hours of them contracting this disease they typically wind up passing,” Dr. Nettles said.

Symptoms could include inflammation or swelling of the brain.

“It generally starts out with neurological symptoms such as circling, head pressing, tremors, just acting like they don’t know what’s going on where they are at and eventually that could lead to them just going down and signs of paralysis,” Dr. Nettles said.

Humans can also get EEE, according to the CDC 30% of people who are infected by the disease end up dying. Survivors could still have ongoing neurological issues.

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