Press Releases
09/21/2023
CT Equine Owners Urged to Vaccinate and Take Precautions to Protect Against Mosquito-Borne Diseases
(HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is reminding the state’s equine community to take appropriate measures to protect against eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV). The mosquito-borne diseases affect horses, birds, and humans. Horses are the domestic animals most susceptible to infection with EEE and WNV viruses. Two human cases of WNV infection have been reported in CT so far this year, along with recent detections in birds.
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) has identified West Nile virus (WNV) infected mosquitoes in 33 Connecticut towns this season: Bethel, Branford, Bridgeport, Colchester, Danbury, Darien, East Haddam, East Haven, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Greenwich, Hartford, Hebron, Killingworth, Manchester, Mansfield, Middlefield, Milford, New Canaan, New Haven, North Stonington, Norwalk, South Windsor, Stamford, Tolland, Wallingford, Waterbury, Waterford, West Haven, Westport, Wethersfield, Willington, and Wilton. EEE-infected mosquitoes have been detected in: Hampton, Killingly, Thompson, Tolland, Voluntown, and Woodstock.
Equine owners are encouraged to implement the following, in coordination with their veterinarian, including:
- Administering the initial two-dose vaccine series, four to six weeks apart.
- Administer regular boosters at least annually.
- Consult with your veterinarian if boosters are needed every six months.
- Give vaccinations at least one month prior to mosquito season to develop protective immunity.
- Remove sources of standing water to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.
- Clean and refill water troughs regularly.
- Apply fly sprays containing pyrethrin regularly.
If your horse is showing neurologic signs, i.e. hyperexcitability, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, head tilt, head pressing, incoordination, drowsiness, recumbency, colic, or death, it’s important to call a veterinarian to determine a diagnosis and treatment.
Neurologic diseases of domestic animals, such as EEE, WNV, and Rabies, are reportable to the State Veterinarian at 860-713-2505. For more information, on animals and animal health, visit the state website.
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture mission is to foster a healthy economic, environmental, and social climate for agriculture by developing, promoting, and regulating agricultural businesses; protecting agricultural and aquacultural resources; enforcing laws pertaining to domestic animals; and promoting an understanding among the state's citizens of the diversity of Connecticut agriculture, its cultural heritage, and its contribution to the state's economy. For more information, visit www.CTGrown.gov.
For Immediate Release: Thursday, September 21, 2023
Contact: Rebecca Eddy, 860-573-0323, Rebecca.Eddy@ct.gov