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SARGA.CO – During a warm summer in New York, grim news emerged from Madison County. Two stallions were found dead in early August 2025 after being infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) — a rare but deadly virus transmitted through mosquito bites.
At first glance, it might sound like an ordinary case, but in the world of horse breeding, EEE is a nightmare that offers little chance of survival.
This virus is known as one of the most lethal infections in horses, with a fatality rate reaching up to 90%. Even worse, EEE can also infect humans. Although rare, each outbreak almost always results in casualties.
EEE strikes swiftly and mercilessly. The virus is carried by mosquitoes that have previously bitten wild birds and then transmitted to horses or humans. Once inside the body, it attacks the brain and central nervous system.
Within just one or two days, a seemingly healthy horse can deteriorate drastically — developing a high fever, losing balance, staggering, and eventually collapsing in paralysis. Many do not survive beyond 48 hours.
The incident in Madison County illustrates how quickly EEE can devastate its victims. According to TheHorse.com, a five-year-old horse was found collapsed in a field, unable to get up. A day later, it died.
Another horse, aged seven, initially appeared only stiff and weak. But within hours, it developed a fever, its eyes grew dull, and it became paralyzed. Tests confirmed that both horses were positive for EEE — and tragically, neither had been vaccinated.
That’s what makes EEE so terrifying: there is no cure. Once infected, the only possible action is supportive care to ease symptoms. Thus, the only real protection is routine vaccination and mosquito control.
The New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets (NYSDAM) annually reminds horse owners to vaccinate, especially toward the end of summer when mosquito populations surge. Simple preventive steps — such as removing standing water, covering stables at night, and using animal-safe mosquito repellents — can literally make the difference between life and death.
While most cases occur in the eastern United States, the pattern of EEE transmission is shifting. Climate change — extending warm seasons and increasing humidity — is enabling EEE-carrying mosquitoes to appear in regions that have never reported the virus before.
Research also suggests that the virus can persist silently in bird and mosquito populations for years, reemerging suddenly when environmental conditions become favorable.
The story of the two horses in New York is just a small glimpse of a much larger threat. EEE may not make headlines often, but every time it surfaces, its impact is devastating. The virus doesn’t spread directly from horse to horse — but mosquitoes, its carriers, can be anywhere.
In silence, a single tiny mosquito can deliver a deadly virus — piercing the skin and ending the life of a strong, healthy horse in just two days.
This virus knows no boundaries. It lives in swamps, wet forests, and open fields where horses run freely. And as long as mosquitoes continue to fill the air, EEE will remain a threat worth fearing.
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