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.
Transmission
- Eastern equine encephalitis is one of several mosquito-transmitted
diseases that have been seen in Minnesota.
Prevention
- Preventing
Mosquito-Transmitted 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.


