Press Release
JUNE 29th, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
|
CONTACT: Public
Information
561-671-4014 or press50@doh.state.fl.us
Dr. Mike Short
850-617-7737 |
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL—The
Palm Beach County Health
Department received
confirmation today from the
Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer
Services that a horse
euthanized in Wellington
last week was confirmed to
have Eastern Equine
Encephalitis. In addition,
from late May to early June
Culiseta melanura mosquitoes
were discovered in the
sentinel mosquito traps
monitored by County Mosquito
Control and used to
determine mosquito counts
and species,. This is the
mosquito that carries the
EEEV and not generally found
in South Florida.
Dr. Mary Echols who oversees
arbovirus activities for the
Health Department said,
“Normally we see EEE in
horses that have traveled
out of area and infected
prior to returning to our
county. However, this case
was in an unvaccinated horse
that had not traveled
outside the county the month
prior to its illness.
Coupled with the mosquito
finding it is the first
locally acquired case of
this virus, this year.”
EEE is a rare disease in
Palm Beach County that is
caused by a virus spread by
infected mosquitoes. EEE
virus (EEEV) is one of a
group of
mosquito-transmitted viruses
that can cause inflammation
of the brain (encephalitis).
This year in Florida there
have been 8 equines and 14
sentinel chickens infected
with the virus in 10
counties including this
latest case. Other mosquito
viruses are West Nile Virus
and St. Louis Encephalitis.
The recent heavy rains
across Palm Beach County
this week can signal an
increase in the mosquito
population as the eggs hatch
out in standing water.
“Residents and visitors need
to take precautions to
prevent mosquito bites,”
said Health Department
Director Dr. Alina Alonso.
-
Drain any standing water
around your home as even
the smallest container
can be a breeding ground
for mosquitoes
-
Check doors and window
screen and repair any
holes or tears
-
Cover yourself with
light weight clothing
that has long sleeves,
wear long pants and
socks and use an insect
repellant following the
manufacturer’s
The Department of
Agriculture is advising
horse owners to have their
animal’s vaccinations and
boosters up to date. EEE and
West Nile infection are
preventable in horses that
are vaccinated. There is no
vaccine for humans. The
Florida Department of Health
is also recommending people
take precautions to avoid
mosquito bites while on
vacation his summer. For
further information contact
www.pbchd.com,
www.cdc.gov, or
www.freshfromflorida.com/ai/.
County Mosquito Control will
be conducting aerial
spraying the week of July 1.
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