Onondaga County Health Commissioner, Cynthia B. Morrow, MD, MPH announced today that a horse has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The Health Department received confirmation of these results from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Wadsworth Laboratory late yesterday. The horse, stabled on Oswego Road (Route 48) in the Town of Lysander, became seriously ill and needed to be euthanized on September 10th. Morrow stated that “Fortunately EEE was not identified in any of the mosquito pools collected last week and explained that this is the first horse in Onondaga County diagnosed with EEE since 2004”.

Dr. Morrow also reinforced, “It is imperative that Onondaga County residents continue to practice personal protection measures to reduce the transmission of mosquito borne disease” and recommended the following tips:

Personal protection is advised during outdoor activities. Personal protection measures include:

§         Wearing shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when outside for a long period of time.

§         Avoiding outside activity during prime mosquito feeding times (dawn and dusk)

§         Applying a repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, and IR3535 is recommended to prevent mosquito bites (follow manufacturers instructions on proper use).

 Preventive measures:

§         Throw away outdoor tin cans, plastic containers, or similar outdoor items that collect water

§         Remove tires from your property

§         Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are kept outdoors

§         Clean clogged rain gutters

§         Turn over wheelbarrows and wading pools when not in use

§         Change water in bird baths every four days

§         Clear vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds

§         Clean chlorinated swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs

§         Drain water from pool covers

§         Use landscaping to eliminate low spots where standing water accumulates

 For more information about Eastern Equine Encephalitis and mosquito borne illness contact call the Onondaga County Health Department at 435-1649 or visit www.ongov.net/health and click on mosquito update.