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Another Case Of 'EEE' In A Horse In Wayne County

Health officials in Wayne County say they have received word from the NY State Health Department about a positive test for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. It involved a horse that died in the Town of Macedon.

Recently a horse in the Wayne County Town of Galen also tested positive for 'EEE.'

Health officials have been trapping mosquitoes in the Towns of Rose and Galen and sending them for testing on a weekly basis. A mosquito pool in Galen has tested positive for West Nile Virus.

Currently, no pools of mosquitoes have tested positive for EEE. But officials note that even if that's the case, the death of two horses from EE indicates mosquitoes in Wayne County are carrying the virus.

EEE is a rare disease caused by a virus spread by infected mosquitoes. It is transmitted through the insect bite, but it is not transmitted directly from person to person, animal to animal or animal to person.

Most people infected by EEE will not develop any symptoms. Severe cases can cause inflammation of the brain.

You can get more info on the disease at the NYS Health Department website.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.