equine encephalitis

noun

variants: or less commonly equine encephalomyelitis

Definition of equine encephalitis

: any of three virus diseases chiefly of equines and humans in various parts of North and South America that are transmitted especially by mosquitoes, are characterized in humans by flu-like symptoms which often progress to encephalitis and sometimes to coma and death, and are caused by three togaviruses (species Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, and Western equine encephalitis virus of the genus Alphavirus)

a : one that occurs in the eastern U.S. and Canada

— called also eastern equine encephalitis, eastern equine encephalomyelitis, triple E

b : one that occurs in the western U.S. and Canada

— called also western equine encephalitis, western equine encephalomyelitis

c : one that occurs from northern South America to Mexico

— called also Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis

Examples of equine encephalitis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The state health laboratories work to investigate and mitigate life-threatening diseases, including COVID-19, eastern equine encephalitis, Ebola, H1N1 and Zika. — From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2021 Back in 2013, the main target at Emory’s DRIVE was Venezuelan equine encephalitis, a mosquito-borne illness with a high mortality rate that can affect people and horses. — Helena Oliviero, ajc, 25 Nov. 2021 No human or animal cases of West Nile or Eastern equine encephalitis, also known as EEE, have been detected so far this year in Massachusetts, DPH said. — BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2021 Connecticut health officials are cautioning southeastern area state residents after the potentially deadly mosquito-borne eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus was detected for the first time this year. — Keira Wingate, USA TODAY, 5 Oct. 2021 Connecticut health officials are cautioning southeastern area state residents over the potentially deadly mosquito-borne eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus after detecting virus-positive mosquitoes. — Kayla Rivas, Fox News, 4 Oct. 2021 It has also been shown to hobble alpha viruses that cause equine encephalitis, the Ebola virus and others. — Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2021 The sentinel chicken -- among many deployed by the department throughout the county -- detected Eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, in zip code 36541, which covers western Mobile County. — Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2021 One of the chickens used by the Mobile County Health Department to detect a mosquito-borne virus tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis, the agency said Tuesday. — Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'equine encephalitis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Learn More About equine encephalitis

Dictionary Entries Near equine encephalitis

equine antelope

equine encephalitis

equine influenza

Statistics for equine encephalitis

Cite this Entry

“Equine encephalitis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equine%20encephalitis. Accessed 24 May. 2022.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

More Definitions for equine encephalitis

equine encephalitis

noun

Medical Definition of equine encephalitis

: any of three virus diseases chiefly of equines and humans in various parts of North and South America that are transmitted especially by mosquitoes, are characterized in humans by flu-like symptoms which often progress to encephalitis and sometimes to coma and death, and are caused by three togaviruses of the genus Alphavirus (species Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Western equine encephalitis virus, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus):

a : one that occurs in the eastern U.S. and Canada

— called also eastern equine encephalitis, eastern equine encephalomyelitis

b : one that occurs in the western U.S. and Canada

— called also western equine encephalitis, western equine encephalomyelitis

c : one that occurs from northern South America to Mexico

— called also Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis