About Eastern Equine Encephalitis

On this page:
Fact Sheet
Transmission
Prevention
Signs and symptoms

Fact Sheet

• Eastern Equine Encephalitis Fact Sheet
  Answers to frequently asked questions about eastern equine encephalitis.
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Transmission

Eastern equine encephalitis is one of several mosquitoborne diseases that have been seen in Minnesota.

Prevention

Preventing Mosquitoborne Diseases
Learn how to minimize your risk to eastern equine encephalitis and other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.

There is a vaccine available for horses to prevent eastern equine encephalitis. Please contact your veterinarian for vaccine recommendations.

Signs and symptoms

• Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare illness in humans, and only a few cases are reported in the United States each year. Many people are bitten by infected mosquitoes but never develop any symptoms of the illness. Cases of eastern equine encephalitis are more common in children.
• Severe cases of eastern equine encephalitis begin with the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting. The illness may then progress into disorientation, seizures, and coma. The disease is the most severe mosquito-transmitted disease in the United States with between 50-75% mortality in cases with symptoms, and significant brain damage in about 80% of survivors.