The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development – MDARD has confirmed three more cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in horses from Newaygo, Montcalm, and Clare counties.
While Newaygo County has now experienced its first case of EEE for 2020, the other new cases in Montcalm and Clare counties are the second known findings in these areas.
When comparing this year’s numbers to those from last year at this time, there have been fewer cases experienced overall. Last year, the first case of EEE occurred on July 22, 2019; and a total of seven cases were discovered by late August. This year, the first case of EEE was reported on August 11, 2020; and these latest findings bring the total number of cases in the state to five.
Horse owners are strongly advised to vaccinate their animals against the disease. Please contact your veterinarian about this option as well as take other precautions to safeguard your animals. Also, if an animal has difficulty standing or walking and develops a fever, please seek veterinary care as soon as possible.
For more information, visit:
www.equinediseasecc.org or www.Michigan.gov/emergingdiseases.
