NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT) -- Here's a heads-up for mid-state horse owners: a rare case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis has caused the death of a West Tennessee horse.
The State Department of Agriculture says this is the first case of the deadly disease it’s seen in Tennessee since 2009. State Veterinarian Dr. Charles Hatcher says the illness is fatal to horses in 75 to 90 percent of cases.
In a conversation with WMOT, Dr. Hatcher listed symptoms horse owners should be on the lookout for.
“They can have a high fever, be depressed, loss of appetite, generalized weakness. Then they’re going to show brain symptoms, in other words lack of coordination, head pressing, a saw-horse stance, circling and paddling, they can be blind, sensitive to light and sound.”
Hatcher says if you see any of those symptoms you should call your vet immediately. He also notes says you should get your horse vaccinated against the illnesses every year.
Humans can also contract Eastern Equine Encephalitis, but can’t catch it directly from an infected horse.
The illness is transmitted by mosquitos so Dr. Hatcher encourages Tennesseans to take measure to eliminate mosquitos on their property and take precautions against mosquito bites.