Horse owners in Alabama and elsewhere have been advised to vaccinate against Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries says that six cases of EEE in horses have been found in the state and contiguous counties.

Commissioner Ron Sparks said, “Heavy rainfall has made us extremely vulnerable to the spread of mosquito-borne viruses, and we need to protect our livestock and ourselves.” Sparks encouraged horse owners to vaccinate their horses for both EEE and West Nile Virus as soon as possible.

For more information in Alabama, contact Dr. Tony Frazier at 334-240-7253.

Unusually high levels of EEE infections are being reported in many states this year. With an eighty percent horse mortality rate, horse owners are well advised to vaccinate and to destroy standing water mosquito-breeding sites.
August 24, 2010