RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia has its first confirmed case of eastern equine encephalitis.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says the 2-year-old Arabian from Suffolk was vaccinated more than a year ago but was not revaccinated this year.
The disease has a mortality rate of 80 percent. Eastern equine encephalitis typically is transmitted by mosquitoes.
The state veterinarian encouraged horse owners to work with their veterinarians to arrange a vaccination schedule.
Last year, Virginia had no reported cases of encephalitis in horses or other livestock.
