CALUMET COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Be careful of mosquito bites, health officials warn, after a horse tested positive for a disease that mosquitoes can also spread to people.
Calumet County Public Health says a horse tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis. It’s the first horse in the county, and the third in Wisconsin, to test positive this year.
Health officials say the EEE virus is spread by mosquitoes that feed on infected birds. The virus can also affect humans, and the positive test in the horse shows that infected mosquitoes are in the area.
While most people who are infected do not get sick, symptoms can include fever, headache, chills, and vomiting. Severe illness can result in an inflammation of the brain called encephalitis, which can lead to disorientation, seizures, coma or death. There is no specific vaccine or treatment for EEE in people.
Symptoms in horses include depression, loss of appetite, drooping eyelids and lower lip, blindness, paralysis, and death. There are vaccines available horses.
Since the virus is known to be circulating in Calumet County, health officials recommend these steps to prevent mosquito bites:
Avoid Mosquito Bites
- Apply an insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 to exposed skin and clothing.
- Prior to heading outdoors, treat clothing with permethrin; do not apply permethrin directly to skin.
- Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning hours, when mosquitoes are most active.
- Wear long-sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors to help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Mosquito-Proof Your Home
- Make sure window and door screens are intact and tightly fitted to prevent mosquitoes from getting into your home.
- Prevent mosquitoes from breeding around your home by removing stagnant water from items around your property, such as tin cans, plastic containers, flowerpots, discarded tires, roof gutters, and downspouts.
- Turn over wheelbarrows, kiddie pools, buckets, and small boats such as canoes and kayaks when not in use.
- Change the water in birdbaths and pet dishes at least every three days.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs; drain water from pool covers.
- Trim or mow tall grass, weeds, and vines since mosquitoes use these areas to rest during hot daylight hours.
