The Triple E Horse Vaccine is Saving Lives in South Carolina

Are you familiar with the mosquito-borne disease, Eastern Equine Encephalitis? Also known as EEE (Triple E), it is a deadly disease most often spread to horses by the bite of an infected mosquito. Ninety percent of horses infected with EEE will die. While people can contract the disease as well, it is a rare occurrence (but potentially a deadly one.)

There is no prevention, treatment, or cure for EEE in humans, but for horses, there is a vaccine! And it is working!

The Importance of the EEE Vaccine

The University of Clemson reports that in South Carolina, we had one of the lowest incidences of EEE in horses in the Southeastern United States in 2018. The low-rate is being attributed to the wide use of the EEE vaccine in horses. It is a pleasure to report that just a single case in 2018 occurred and it was in Chesterfield County. A huge improvement from leading the nation in cases with 49 in 2013 and the 9 cases in 2017. The goal is to get that number down to ZERO.

In 2018, there were 7 cases of EEE in horses in each Georgia, and North Carolina and a whopping 66 cases reported in Florida! The mosquito population is not decreasing, nor is the prevalence of EEE, so protecting our horses with the vaccine is the best method of EEE prevention for horses.

EEE Prevention

Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for humans, so eliminating mosquitoes is important for protecting your family. Mosquito control services from Mosquito Squad can eliminate up to 90% of mosquitoes on your property, allowing you to rest easy knowing you’re doing everything you can to protect your pets and family from dangerous mosquito bites.

Remember, mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis emerge mid-mosquito season. With the mild winter and early mosquito season, cases are expected to pop up early this year. Check with your veterinarian to be sure your horses are up-to-date on all their recommended vaccines. And make sure you are familiar with the symptoms of Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

Call today to get a free quote for mosquito control services for your property.