Florida horse euthanized after testing positive for EEE

A horse in Washington County, Florida, was euthanized after testing positive for Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This marks the seventh confirmed EEE case in Florida for 2026.

EEE is a serious mosquito-borne disease caused by a virus that uses wild birds as a natural reservoir. Mosquitoes transmit the virus to humans, horses, and other birds. While horses do not develop high enough viral levels in their blood to be contagious to other animals or humans, the disease carries a high mortality rate for both species.