In a September 4th health alert from the Equine Disease Communication Center, it was reported that Eastern Equine Encephalitis had been confirmed in two horses, that were subsequenly euthanized.
One case was in the Greater Sudbury area. A six-year-old mare showed clinical signs starting on August 15th. These included: ataxia, circling, fever, head pressing, somnolence, stumbling, staggering, absent menace response. EEE was confirmed August 28th.
In the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville area, a case was confirmed August 28th, after clinical signs of EEE were observed in an 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding that showed lethargy, convulsions, paddling.
The next day, it was reported that another mare in Greater Sudbury was diagnosed, after displaying anorexia, ataxia, falling, fever, lethargy, recumbency, somnolence. The four-year-old Paint first showed signs August 22nd and EEE was confirmed September 3rd.
Further, a one-year-old mare was also confirmed with EEE on September 3rd, after showing symptoms such as ataxia, circling, fever, lethargy, unable to rise, weakness, starting August 22nd.
Both horses were euthanized.
Click here to see the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Equine Neurological Disease Surveillance 2019 chart.
