Eastern equine encephalitis virus
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Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus (EEE), commonly called sleeping sickness or "Triple E", is a zoonotic alphavirus and arbovirus present in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. EEEV was first recognised in Massachusetts, USA in 1831 when 75 horses died of encephalitic illness. Epizootics in horses have continued to occur regularly in USA. EEE is found today in the eastern part of the country.
The causal agent, EEE, was first isolated from infected horse brains in 1933. In 1938, the first confirmed human cases were identified when thirty children died of encephalitis in northeastern USA. These cases coincided with outbreaks in horses in the same regions. The fatality rate in humans infected with EEE is 35%.
EEE is capable of infecting a wide range of animals including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, but not all animals develop high enough levels of EEEV to be contagious to humans. The virus is maintained in birds primarily through Culiseta spp. mosquitoes and transmission to other species occurs via mosquitoes. Ticks, lice, and mites may also transmit EEE. EEEV can also be transmitted through exposure of the eyes, lungs or skin wounds to brain or spinal cord matter from infected animals.
Symptoms in horses occur 1-3 weeks after infection and began with a fever that may reach as high as 106 degrees fahrenheit(41 degrees celsius). The fever usually lasts for 24-48 hours. Nervous signs appear during the fever that include sensitivity to sound, period of excitement, and restlessness. Brain lesions appear causing drowsiness, drooping ears, circling, and abnormal gait. Paralysis follows causing the horse to have difficulty raising its head. The horses usually suffers complete paralysis and death 2-4 days after symptoms appear. Mortality rates in the eastern strain range 70-90% in horses.
The disease can be prevented in horses with the use of vaccinations. These vaccinations are usually given together with vaccinations for other diseases, most commonly WEE, VEE, and tetanus. Most vaccinations for EEE consist of the killed virus.
In 2006, several human cases of EEE were confirmed in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, prompting public safety fears after several fatalities. Five human cases including 1 death have been reported in Massachusetts. Authorities have sprayed regions of Massachusetts by airplane twice during the summer of 2006.: [1][2]
The CDC web page with more complete information: [3]
EEEV is closely related to Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus and Western equine encephalitis virus.
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Source for a portion of this information: Evans, Borton, Hintz, Van Vleck. The Horse. 1977. W.H. Freeman and Company. New York.
