How serious is Eastern equine encephalitis?
• EEE is typically found in the eastern United States (as far west as Michigan), and in the south along the Gulf Coast. • The risk of an EEE outbreak in humans is low in Minnesota. No human cases have been reported here, but three horse cases were reported in 2001 (first evidence of this virus in Minnesota in recent history). These horse cases were part of a regional outbreak which included approximately 70 horses in Wisconsin, and a single horse in Iowa. • Most of the 2001 horse cases occurred near tamarack bogs or hardwood swamps. These are the types of wetlands that produce Cs. melanura mosquitoes.
