Overview

• LSU Diagnostics confirmed at least 14 horse cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Louisiana this year, describing the rise as unusual, according to interim director Dr. Alma Roy.
• The Tennessee Department of Agriculture reported two new infections in Middle Tennessee horses: one EEE case in Bedford County and one West Nile virus case in Sumner County.
• EEE carries a very high fatality rate in horses—up to about 90%—while severe West Nile disease is typically less deadly, university guidance shows.
• Veterinarians recommend region-specific vaccination schedules—about every six months in Louisiana and annually in Tennessee—and stress using vaccines obtained and administered by veterinarians for proper storage and efficacy.
• Prevention emphasizes mosquito control and transmission awareness, including removing standing water, using repellents, limiting exposure at dusk and dawn, and recognizing that horses and humans are infected via mosquito bites rather than from other mammals.