Officials Say Serious Encephalitis Outbreak Among Horses to Get Worse

By: Tallahassee Associated Press

Updated: Wed 8:29 PM, Jul 23, 2003

encephalitis mosquito

State officials say they're expecting more outbreaks among horses since we've been getting a lot of rain and that breeds more mosquitoes.

Two children and more than 170 horses have been diagnosed with eastern equine encephalitis in Florida this year.

Last year, only 25 horses contracted the virus.

Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson is worried.

In his words: "It looks like eastern equine is jumping out much faster than West Nile this year.'' In his view, if horses are getting it, then people are more apt to get it as well.''

Bronson is urging horse owners to get their animals vaccinated against eastern equine and West Nile twice a year. And health officials say it's getting so bad that people should stay inside between dusk and dawn.

Death Toll in Oklahoma Twister Revised From 51 to 24

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