Eastern Equine Encephalitis is deadlier than WNV, but much more uncommon
Aug 14, 2008 - 05:31 PM
By Reka Szekely
DURHAM -- A horse from north Durham has died of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), which is a mosquito-borne virus similar to West Nile virus (WNV), but deadlier in both humans and horses.
Durham's health department said the horse became ill earlier this month and died shortly after. The virus is normally a disease of birds and mosquitoes, but can be transmitted to humans by the insects.
The Centre for Disease Control in the United States reports the mortality rate for EEE is one third in humans. By comparison, the CDC says 1 in 150 people who are infected with WNV will develop a severe illness.
Dr. Monika Dutt, Durham's acting medical officer of health, said in order to protect themselves, residents should take the same precautions they would take for WNV. There hasn't been a case of EEE among horses in Ontario since 2004 and she could not track down any cases among humans. Symptoms for the disease in humans range from a mild flu-like illness to swelling of the brain leading to a coma and death.
"The main word is that it's rare, there's about five cases in the States per year, so it's incredibly uncommon," she said, adding residents shouldn't be anymore worried about EEE than they are about WNV,
The health department declined to provide further information on which municipality the horse was from.
"We're just leaving it at northern Durham because it doesn't change any of the public health measures or messages we would put out ... it can be distributed by birds and mosquitoes so it's relevant to the whole region," said Dr. Dutt.
The Region will continue to monitor mosquitoes and birds through its WNV program and will test the mosquitoes for EEE as well.
"We're monitoring mosquitoes as we always do and we'll be testing them for this virus, we haven't had any positives for this virus yet," said Dr. Dutt. Two crows in Durham, one in Uxbridge and one in Port Perry, have tested positive for WNV. A woman in Markham has tested positive for the disease as well.
Horses are a dead end carrier for EEE, meaning they cannot pass it on to humans or other horses.
Kevin Alcock, president of the Uxbridge Horsemen's Association, said in many cases horses are already vaccinated for the disease, which is up to 90 per cent fatal among them.
"If you have had your horse vaccinated for West Nile, chances are your horse has been vaccinated for Eastern Equine Encephalitis as well," he said.
However, not everyone vaccinates all their horses since it costs about $70 per horse.
"If you own 10 horses, that's $700. It can get pricey, so people don't vaccinate all their horses," said Mr. Alcock, adding this is just another reason to vaccinate horses against WNV.
He also recommends people take precautions.
"If there's mosquitoes around your farm giving it to your horse, you can get it too, it's very rare, but very serious."
There is no vaccine for humans. For more information on either virus or to report sightings of dead crows, blue jays or raptors, residents can call the Region's health department's environmental help line at 905-723-3818 or 1-888-777-9613, ext. 2188. Sightings can also be reported online at www.region.durham.on.ca.
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