Equine encephalitis cases increase in Uruguay

Montevideo, Jan 26 (Prensa Latina) Equine encephalitis has claimed the lives of 71 horses in Uruguay, according to a report released by the Animal Health Division of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries who also added that cases of the disease continued to increase in the last week.

January 26, 2024
10:09

As of January 23, MGAP technicians had visited 527 establishments where 15,130 equines live.

The number of dead horses with clinical symptoms totaled 192. The number of deceased animals that were found to have encephalitis was 71.

The deaths occurred in 16 of the 19 Uruguayan departments.

The report states that 236 animals are recovering and 347 were cured.

In Uruguay vaccination is optional, while in neighboring Argentina it is mandatory.

Argentina’s National Agrifood Health and Quality Service ordered mandatory vaccination against Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis for all horses and mares that are at least two months old.

According to media reports, 31 human cases have been confirmed in recent weeks and two people have died in the province of Buenos Aires.

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