EEE Case Reported Near North Escambia

July 16, 2008

A case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE, pronounced “Triple E”) in a child in nearby Seminole, Alabama, is prompting Escambia County (Florida) Health Department officials to urge residents and visitors to take some recommended precautions.

Seminole is just 13 straight line miles from Molino.

EEE is a serious disease and can be fatal to infants, children and the elderly. Because of the high death rate, EEE is regarded as one of the most serious mosquito-borne diseases in the United States. About one-third of those that contract EEE died.

The disease is highly fatal in horses, with about 90 percent of all horses that contract the disease dying.

Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson is urging horse owners to get their animals vaccinated as the number of EEE cases are on the rise.

As of June 30, there are four times as many cases as there were during the same time period in the two previous years.  There have been 45 confirmed cases covering 21 counties as far south as Palm Beach County.  In the first six months of 2007, there were 11 cases and the same number in 2006.

“We have had two relatively quiet years in a row and I am concerned that horse owners may get complacent and delay having their animals properly vaccinated,” Bronson said.  “But with the rainy season starting to resume, we are likely to see a lot more mosquitoes than we have during the two years of drought.”

Bronson says the majority of cases of EEE and West Nile Virus in horses can be prevented through proper vaccinations against mosquito borne illnesses. Bronson said that now is the time for horse owners to take action.  Horse owners are urged to check with their veterinarian to make sure their animals have received current vaccinations and booster shots against WNV and EEE, and that these shots are kept up to date.

The health department says residents and visitors should take these precautions to protect themselves:

  • Dusk and Dawn: Do not go outdoors when mosquitoes are seeking blood during the twilight hours of dusk and at dawn.
  • Dress: Wear clothing that covers most of your skin.
  • DEET: When the potential exists for exposure to mosquitoes, repellents containing DEET are recommended. Check labels before using a product on infants and children. If an infant is too young to wear repellent and must be outdoors, a parent should place mosquito netting over the infant’s carrier. Picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus are other repellent options for individuals who cannot wear DEET.
  • Drainage: Check around your home to rid the area of standing water, which is where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Elimination of breeding sites is one of the keys to
    prevention.
  • Screens: Make sure window and door screens are in good condition, without any tears or holes that allow mosquitos to enter your home. Place screens on open windows.
  • Clean out eaves, troughs and gutters.
  • Remove old tires or drill holes in those used in playgrounds to drain
  • Turn over or remove empty plastic pots
  • Pick up all beverage containers and cups.
  • Check tarps on boats or other equipment that may collect water.
  • Pump out bilges on boats.
  • Replace water in birdbaths and pet or other animal feeding dishes at least once a week.
  • Change water in plant trays, including hanging plants, at least once a week.
  • Remove vegetation or obstructions in drainage ditches that prevent the flow of water.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News