Lambton horse has eastern equine encephalitis: health unit

Lambton Public Health is reminding residents to guard against mosquito bites after a county horse was found to have eastern equine encephalitis.

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The virus, which is not a reportable disease in Ontario, is typically found in wild birds and mosquitoes but can spread to horses and, rarely, humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, the agency said.

The case was confirmed Friday by Ontario’s Agriculture Ministry, public health said.

The animaL, a 13-year-old gelding, was treated and survived with some neurologic deficits, according to an alert posted to the Equine Disease Communication Center.

It was the 17th case of the virus in Ontario this year, the post said.

There is a vaccine to protect horses from eastern equine encephalitis, but no vaccine for humans, Lambton Public Health said. “While human cases are rare, the disease can cause serious neurological complications and even death.”

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West Nile virus, also spread by mosquitoes, was confirmed this month in a horse that died in Lambton County.

Lambton’s first human case of West Nile was confirmed in late August and mosquitoes collected Aug. 14 from a trap in Corunna tested positive for that virus.

Preventing mosquito bites is the best way for residents to protect themselves from both West Nile and eastern equine encephalitis, Lambton Public Health said.

You can reduce your risk of mosquito bites by avoiding areas with high mosquito populations and taking extra precautions – such as wearing light-colored clothing and using repellents with DEET or Icaridin – from dusk to dawn, when mosquito activity is high.

To reduce mosquito breeding areas, drain standing or stagnant water on your property, remove old tires, turn over containers and toys outside, change water in bird baths at least weekly and keep eavestroughs clear.

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