Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) – What You Need to Know

Eastern Equine Encephalitis, or “Sleeping Sickness,” is a serious brain disease spread by mosquito bites. Horses get it from mosquitoes that have fed on infected wild birds, not from other horses. They must be bitten by an infected mosquito to contract EEE.

Common symptoms in horses:

• Fever

• Depression

• Walking in circles

• Head pressing

• Stumbling

• Weakness or paralysis

Protection: Vaccination is the best defense.

• Horses new to the vaccine need 2 doses, 3–6 weeks apart, and a booster each year.

• Boosters are recommended twice a year (spring and fall).

Reduce mosquito exposure:

• Dump buckets and troughs at least weekly.

• Make sure there is no standing water around barns/stables.

• Treat troughs with Mosquito Dunks® or stock them with fish.

• Apply approved insect repellent.

• Stable horses at night.

• Use barn fans to keep mosquitoes away.

Calcasieu Parish Mosquito Control is monitoring all mosquito transmitted viruses in the Parish and treating areas on a regular basis.