Health officials are encouraging residents to take precautions following more reports of illnesses related to mosquito bites.

Just last week, the Mahoning County Health District reported a case of West Nile Virus in which a 66-year-old resident died after being hospitalized with encephalitis.

On Tuesday, the Trumbull County Health Department on reported that a horse in the county, and three in Ashtabula County have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)virus.

EEE infections in humans are rare, and Ohio has no confirmed human cases, but the disease can be serious when it does occur.

Mosquitoes carrying EEE can infect birds, horses and humans. Other diseases that people can get from mosquitoes in Ohio include: West Nile virus (WNV), St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), and La Crosse encephalitis (LAC). Cases of mosquito-borne diseases in Ohio typically occur in late summer and early fall when mosquitoes are most abundant.

Horses infected with EEE can experience symptoms including paralysis, impaired vision, difficulty swallowing, hanging their heads and grinding their teeth. There have been sporadic equine cases of EEE in Ohio since a large outbreak in horses in 1991. Horse owners should consult with their veterinarian about an EEE vaccine which is available.

“EEE cannot be transmitted from horses to humans. It's transmitted through a bite from an infected mosquito,” said James Enyeart, M.D., Trumbull County Health Commissioner. “While the risk of contracting EEE may be low, it's a good idea to take precautions to reduce the likelihood of getting mosquito bites. This will also help protect you from other mosquito-borne illnesses.”

These precautions include:

When outdoors, use insect repellent containing DEET, picardin IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin and on clothing.

Avoid being outside during dawn and dusk.

Wear long sleeves, pants, and socks.

Eliminate all standing water from flower pots, buckets, and barrels to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in stagnant water.

Change bird bath water weekly.

Make sure all window and door screens are in good repair.

Keep gutters clean and free of debris.

Ohio Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Forshey is urging horse owners to contact their veterinarian to ensure the animal's EEE vaccine and boosters are up to date.

“The most effective way to prevent EEE in horses is to have the animal vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian,” said Dr. Forshey. “Taking steps to manage the mosquito population, such as eliminating standing water, will also aid in the prevention of EEE and other vector-borne viruses that cause illness in horses and in people.”

The virus responsible for EEE is transmitted to horses by mosquitoes and attacks the animal's central nervous system. In horses, onset is abrupt and usually fatal.

Suspected equine cases should be reported to a local veterinarian and the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Suspected human cases of EEE should be reported to the Trumbull County Health Department.

For more information about the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases, contact the Trumbull County Health Department at (330) 675-2590 Ext. 3 between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. weekdays.

You can also find out more about EEE by following this link: