Alert For Equine Encephalitis In Guanacaste
The Ministerio de Salud has sounded a
warning to all persons having contact or are
near horses, especially in the areas of
Liberia and Cañas in Guanacaste.
The ministrad de Salud, Maria Luisa Avila,
explained that there is a veterinary alert
for equine encephalitis, which so far has
meant the sacrifice of eleven horses.
The alert, according to the ministra, is
being widened to humans as the equine
encephalitis virus can transmitted to humans
by the bite of an infected mosquito. Equine
encephalitis is a rare illness in humans.
Avila said that a bite from an arthropod
(mosquitoes, biting flies and ticks) and
arachnid (spiders, scorpions) after having
bitten a horse with the virus will pass it
on to humans.
The ministra added that a mosquito or insect
has to first bite a horse and then a human,
and that the transmission from the arthropod
and arachnid is only once, as it cannot
infect another human after its bite.
Most persons infected with the equine
encephalitis have no apparent illness.
Severe cases of equine encephalitis
(involving encephalitis, an inflammation of
the brain) begin with the sudden onset of
headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting.
The illness may then progress into
disorientation, seizures, or coma.
equine encephalitis is one of the most
severe mosquito-transmitted diseases with a
significant mortality rate and brain damage
in most survivors.
There is no specific treatment for equine
encephalitis; care is based on symptoms.
You can reduce your risk of being infected
with equine encephalitis by using insect
repellent, wearing protective clothing, and
staying indoors while mosquitoes are most
active.
Avila recommends hat if you think you or a
family member may have equine encephalitis,
it is important to consult your healthcare
provider for proper diagnosis.
Equine
encephalitis may be caused by several
viruses:
* Eastern equine encephalitis virus
* Western equine encephalitis virus
* Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus
Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus (EEE),
commonly called sleeping sickness or "Triple
E", is a zoonotic alphavirus and arbovirus
present in North, Central and South America
and the Caribbean. EEE was first recognized
in Massachusetts, USA in 1831 when 75 horses
died of encephalitic illness. Epizootics in
horses have continued to occur regularly in
the United States. EEE is found today in the
eastern part of the country and is often
associated with coastal plains.
The Western equine encephalitis virus
is the causative agent of relatively
uncommon viral disease Western equine
encephalitis (WEE). An Alphavirus of the
family Togaviridae, the WEE virus is an
arbovirus (arthropod-borne virus)
transmitted by mosquitoes of the genera
Culex and Culiseta.
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus
is a mosquito-borne viral pathogen that
causes Venezuelan equine encephalitis or
encephalomyelitis (VEE). VEE can affect all
equine species, such as horses, donkeys, and
zebras. After infection, equines may
suddenly die or show progressive central
nervous system disorders. Humans also can
contract this disease. Healthy adults who
become infected by the virus may experience
flu-like symptoms, such as high fevers and
headaches. People with weakened immune
systems and the young and the elderly can
become severely ill or die from this
disease.
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Equine Viral Encephalitis
There are many causes of central nervous system disease in the horse, including viral, bacterial, parasitic, developmental or traumatic disease. Overall, central nervous system disease is uncommon. The viral causes of brain or spinal cord disease affecting horses include: the arboviruses, herpesviruses and rabies.
In general, the signs of arboviral diseases include fever, depressed demeanour, altered behaviour, incoordination, paralysis and death.
The viruses are transmitted from insects, e.g., mosquitoes, to horses and occur during the seasons when the insects are active (summer and fall).
Birds are the natural hosts for these viruses. The two groups of Arboviruses that affect horses are the Alphaviruses and Flaviviruses. |
