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<br /> <br />Horse Owners Urged to Vaccinate Equine to Prevent <br />Fatal Virus <br /> <br />By Logan Wheless <br />Posted June 24, 2016 at 10:21 am <br /> <br />Horse owners are urged to vaccinate their equine after two horses were diagnosed with Eastern <br />Equine Encephalomyelitis in Horry County, South Carolina. <br />The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services released the news <br />Wednesday about the two horses that have contracted the virus which is most often fatal due to <br />the swelling of the brain and spinal cord. <br />Public Information Officer for the NCDA Jennifer Kendrick explained the mosquito-borne virus <br />as something to be aware of year-round. <br />“We’ve been encouraging horse owners to get their horses, donkeys, mules vaccinated against <br />EEE for several years now and because our mosquito season can go pretty much all year long at <br />times depending on the year, we do encourage horse owners to keep up that vaccination twice a <br />year to protect their equine.” <br />Kendrick shared some signs of the EEE virus and what types of behavioral changes you may <br />want to look out for. <br />“Fever and rapid heart rate, them not wanting to eat, depression, circling is one of the signs of it, <br />muscle weakness, head pressing and wall leaning, those are some of the things you should look <br />out for,” Kendrick said. “Those could also be several other viruses as well, so whenever you do <br />notice any changes in your equine, you really do need to contact your veterinarian and have them <br />checked out pretty quickly.” <br />This virus can also be contracted by humans, although it is very unlikely to happen, Kendrick <br />said it’s always smart to take extra precautions around your property to protect your equine and <br />yourself.