LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A viral disease spread by mosquitos was found in Lackawanna County in December.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) killed a horse in Lackawanna County. There have been no reported human cases.
People with EEE may demonstrate flu-like symptoms with advanced cases progressing to meningitis or encephalitis. EEE is not contagious from human to human.
EEE is more deadly to horses, about 90% of infected horses die.
Director of Lackawanna County’s West Nile virus mitigation program, Rocco Genovese, says EEE is relatively rare in PA but is more dangerous than West Nile virus.
Fewer than 1% of people infected with West Nile virus die from it, whereas EEE is fatal to 33% of humans.
Genovese said the county does not need to take any extraordinary measures regarding the EEE case because the same mosquito-killing measures it employs to mitigate the West Nile virus will kill mosquitoes carrying the EEE virus.
Horse vaccinations prove to be highly effective in protecting horses from EEE. The state DEP recommends horses get vaccinated around this time of year before mosquitoes emerge in the warmer weather.
