Year’s first Horse Death from EEE confirmed in SC

On Friday, Dr. Boyd Parr, South Carolina State Veterinarian and director of Clemson University Livestock Poultry Health, announced the first confirmed case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis or EEE in a horse for the state this year. A foal from Sumter County that died recently tested positive for the disease. Two adult horses that died at the same farm around the same time are suspected of also having EEE, a serious, mosquito-borne illness in horses that can also affect humans. EEE is preventable by vaccinating horses. The State Veterinarian urges horse owners to consult with their veterinarians to be sure vaccinations against both EEE and West Nile Virus are up-to-date.  During 2012, there were 14 confirmed cases of EEE and 7 of West Nile Virus in South Carolina.