MERRILL, WI (WSAU-WXPR) -The Lincoln County Health Department reports that a horse in Lincoln County has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The report comes after two human cases of the disease this year in Eau Claire County and Chippewa Counties. There have also been reports of several other EEE cases in horses in northern and western regions of Wisconsin.
EEE virus is spread to humans, horses, and other animals through the bite of an infected mosquito, which pick-up the disease by feeding on infected birds. The virus is not spread person to person or directly between animals or between animals and humans. The presence of a EEE positive horse confirms that there are mosquitoes in the area infected with the EEE virus that can spread the virus to people and other animals.
Even though temperatures have cooled off, as long as mosquitoes are active, the risk of EEE and other illnesses spread by mosquitoes can continue through much of the fall. Since EEE virus is known to be circulating in Lincoln County, the health department urges people to be vigilant in preventing mosquito bites.
Many people infected with EEE virus do not get sick, but it can cause serious illness in some cases.
