Deadly Horse Disease Rampages Across US East Coast

New Scientist ^ | 7-11-2003 | Shaoni Bhattacharya

[blam]

Deadly horse disease rampages across US East Coast

18:35 11 July 03

NewScientist.com news service

Health officials in the US are warning that a deadly horse virus which can jump to humans may be coming to its 10-year peak, after a hike in cases on the East Coast.

Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but potentially fatal disease affecting mainly horses. The virus normally resides in birds and is spread by mosquitoes, in a similar way to the deadly West Nile Virus.

Health officials on the East Coast are urging greater public awareness of mosquito-borne diseases following the death of a Georgia man on 21 June from the deadly disease - known as "triple E", and the highest number of cases seen in horses for many years.

The virus kills about 90 per cent of horses that become infected. Although rare in humans, experts are concerned because kills between 50 to 70 per cent of those who contract the disease. Those who survive the virus often suffer permanent neurological damage.

'Unusually active'

Nolan Newton, chief of public health pest management at the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, says the department is warning the public to protect themselves against mosquitoes as triple E has been "unusually active this spring".

"We would certainly consider this a peak year," he told New Scientist. "We had rainfall in most of North Carolina over double the normal average this spring. Flooding caused a lot of mosquitoes which amplified the virus more quickly than normal. The cases are earlier than normal."

"We are certainly worried about triple E," agrees Katherine Bryant, an epidemiologist tracking arboviral (mosquito- borne) diseases for the Georgia Division of Public Health. "This [human] case was very early in the year, which worries us that there may be more cases."

Newton says about 60 different species can spread the disease. The eastern swamp mosquito (Culiseta melanura) transmits it between birds and several species of floodwater mosquitoes transmit it to humans and horses.

High mosquito hatch

Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina have all shown the highest number of triple E in horses for years, mainly in swampy or flooded areas. Wet weather, following a dry spell, may be to blame for the "extremely high mosquito hatch" in these areas. Florida has had 99 horse cases, South Carolina 40 confirmed cases, North Carolina six confirmed and five pending and Georgia has seen 32 horses, 10 birds, one dog and one human with triple E so far in 2003.

But Venaye Reece, equine programs co-ordinator at Clemson University in South Carolina, warns that because the logistics of having a horse tested are difficult the true number of cases may be two to three times greater.

Symptoms in humans can range from mild flu-like illness to high fever, altered mental state, meningitis, encephalitis, seizure and coma.

"Most cases [in horses] present with rapidly developing symptoms, a little depressed, many circling or leaning on walls or gates, becoming recumbent, seizuring and death within 24 to 72 hours," Reece told New Scientist. Vaccination against the disease is recommended in horses although a lack of vaccinated horses may be contributing the "spike" in the disease this year.

Triple E usually peaks every 10 to 12 years says Bryant. Unlike West Nile Virus which is a new disease to the US, triple E is endemic.

"Interestingly, our reports of West Nile Virus positive birds also seem to be about six weeks earlier than normal," says Newton. "This seems to be a year in which we will be worried about both of these mosquito transmitted diseases."

Experts are advising the public on the East Coast to use mosquito repellent, clear standing water, wear long clothing and avoid being out at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are more likely to be active.

Shaoni Bhattacharya

[Pyro7480]

Great... here's another thing people have to worry about.

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[N. Theknow]

Kerry's in trouble.

[b4its2late]

"Most cases [in horses] present with rapidly developing symptoms, a little depressed, many circling or leaning on walls or gates, becoming recumbent

You can also see all of this outside your local watering hole.

[eyespysomething]

I douse my kids with OFF now, as soon as they step outside (I live in GA). Of course myself and the Mr. also. It really works well, and my kids aren't tearing up their legs scratching (or me).

When I was a kid, we just let mosquitoes suck all the blood out of us, ah, the good ol' days.

I guess this is just one of those new things we have to worry about. Spraying my kids with repellent is a small thing, and it keeps us all safer and sane.

Now, if only they made OFF Mommy, She's Cooking Dinner.

[The Radical Capitalist]

Does Sarah Jessica Parker know about this?

[Cicero]

I had a cousin who died around 1970 from equine encephalitis, probably transmitted to her by a mosquito. It got into her central nervous system.

This has been a steady but rare disease, maybe a dozen cases a year. If it's spreading it could be bad news.

[eyespysomething]

Yep, we had a man die 2 counties over this year already. Scary stuff.

[Amelia]

A family friend died of this back in the 1960s, in northern Florida. Bad stuff.

[blam]

"He said that more than 30% of all american breeding mares lost their foal last year, (either miscarriage or stillbirth or birth defects) and nobody knows why. It only occurs in the U.S., and is occuring all over the country."

I thought they had determined that this was related, somehow to wild cherry trees.

[AFreeBird]

B4L8r reading