Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus. The disease can cause symptoms of high fever, stiff neck, headache and lack of energy. The most serious symptom is swelling of the brain called encephalitis which can result in coma and death. There is no cure for EEE, and three out of every ten people who contract the disease die from it. All doctors can do is lower the fever and ease pressure on the brain and spinal cord
EEE is spread primarily by mosquitoes. It is carried by birds that live in freshwater swamps and is transmitted by mosquitoes which bite these birds. Humans and horses can be infected by mosquitoes which bite the birds and then bite humans or horses. - The disease cannot be transmitted via mosquitoes from humans and horses to other humans and horses because the disease cannot reproduce in enough volume in humans and horses to be transmitted in this fashion. The Department of Public Health regularly traps mosquitos to monitor the presence of the virus before it becomes a threat to human populations.
The same mosquitoes which prey on the birds that carry EEE also bite emus, ostriches and rheas. In these large birds, EEE causes an enteric disease and the blood that is shed in feces and other bodily excretions contains the virus in sufficient quantities to transmit disease to other animals and humans.
Although the threat is believed to be low, this may potentially increase the risk to humans in an EEE outbreak. Boards of health, especially in areas which are often subject to encephalitis, should keep track of these exotic birds within their community. To this end, boards can adopt local regulations for registration and also set minimum standards for the keeping of both exotic and farm animals. Emus are not considered domestic animals and a permit from the Department of Fish and Wildlife is required for transportation.