If you own a horse it may be time to get a vaccination for Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis. The first case of 2016 has recently been confirmed in North Carolina, after a quarter horse in Pitt County died from infection.

EEE is a mosquito-borne disease and is preventable from vaccination. Once a horse has been infected by the disease it may take three to 10 days for symptoms to appear.

The disease causes swelling to the brain and spinal cord and is usually fatal. Symptoms a horse displays when infected are weakness, stumbling, depression and inability to stand or eat.

State Veterinarian Doug Meckes said in a release to contact your vet immediately if your horse starts showing any symptoms.

Meckes suggests getting your horses vaccinated immediately from EEE and West Nile Virus. It should be noted that the vaccinations require two shots, 30 days apart.

Keeping horses in stalls at night, using insect screens and fans and turning off lights after dusk can reduce mosquito exposure.

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