The virus is normally maintained in nature in a bird-mosquito cycle. Disease in humans and other animals is typically rare but can occur when an infected mosquito takes a blood meal. There is no direct human-to-human or horse-to-human spread of EEE.

EEE can infect people of all ages and can be a serious or fatal disease. Although most people who are infected develop no symptoms, up to 30 to 50% of those that develop encephalitis may die. People that recover from EEE can have significant side effects such as seizures, mental retardation and paralysis

Symptoms of EEE include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
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• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Extreme tiredness
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• Mental confusion
• Coma

See your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms following a mosquito bite. Symptoms usually occur 4 to 10 days after exposure to a mosquito carrying the virus. There is no specific treatment and there is no vaccine for use in people.

EEE can also cause serious illness in horses, ratites (flightless birds such as ostriches and emus) and pheasants. There is a vaccine available for horses; please contact your veterinarian for further information about vaccinating your horse(s) or ratites.

Mosquito control is very important to decrease the risk of infection with EEE. People are encouraged to take the following personal protection measures to avoid mosquito bites:

• Wear insect repellents, according to product labels, especially if you will be outside between the hours of dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Wear long sleeves and long pants to help avoid mosquito bites. Avoid mosquito infested areas.
• Remove standing water around homes, businesses, and stables (bird baths, flower pots, gutters, old tires, tin cans, plastic containers, or similar water holding containers, etc.). Water buckets and troughs for animals should be flushed and refilled frequently.
• Drain standing water from tarps or other coverings used on boats or swimming pools. Arrange the tarps or covers to allow water to drain.
• Install and inspect window and door screens in homes and stables and repair any holes found.
• Check ornamental ponds, tree holes, and water holding areas for mosquito larvae. Drain or flush the water if larvae are found.