|
|
Discussion on Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis
|
| Author |
Message |
|
Posted on Thursday, Jan 6, 2000 - 8:58 pm:
What are the U.S. incidence statistics for EEE in 1999 among horses and humans? I remember reading earlier in the year about an outbreak in LA, in particular, and about 10 horse cases in another state, maybe N. Carolina?
How difficult is it to determine EEE etiology in humans?
|
|
Posted on Friday, Jan 7, 2000 - 12:51 pm:
Hello Joan,
I do not believe I have seen compiled stats for the whole country. In NC we have 4 (4 in 1999 I believe) and 20 cases a year positively identified but I have heard them estimate for every id'd case there are probably 4 not identified. Prior to vaccines being available outbreaks could involve hundreds of horses at a time.
The problem does tend to concentrate itself in certain areas so I would recommend you check with your state veterinarian as to the local incidence but you should pretty much figure if you have mosquitos you are at significant enough risk to vaccinate. I also do not know how easy if is to identify in humans but assume that at the very least it can be determined with near certainty by serology, but this takes 3 or 4 weeks to get results.
DrO
|
|
Posted on Thursday, Nov 1, 2001 - 12:42 pm:
Dr. O. I live in Florida - I recently read we should vaccinate our horses 3 times a year for EEE. I currently only vaccinate in the spring . Can I have your opinion.
|
|
Posted on Friday, Nov 2, 2001 - 6:23 am:
Research indicates that these vaccines are effective against challenge with virus for 12 months following vaccination (Am J Vet Res 1978 Apr;39(4):621-5 Efficacy of trivalent inactivated encephalomyelitis virus vaccine in horses).
However there have been occasional reports of EEE breakthroughs when vaccinated once a year and so we recommend twice yearly where the disease is endemic and the mosquitoe season is longer than 6 months.
In Fla you do have mosquitoes all year round and though I have occasionally seen this recommendation the last few years cannot find the reason for it.
DrO
|
|
|
