Health Unit logoA dead horse in the Sundridge area has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus.

The local Health Unit is reporting the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs confirms this finding.

However, they say a human case of EEEv has never been reported in Ontario or in Canada – although it has been found in horses and mosquitoes.

This virus causes an inflammation of the brain when a horse is bitten by a mosquito – but the infected horse cannot spread the disease.

The Health Unit adds it has been five years since a positive EEEv mosquito pool was detected, that was in the Parry Sound District.