After two horses died of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), Cayuga County is seeking an “imminent threat to public health” designation.
Public health officials requested the designation from state Health Commissioner James McDonald, aiming to raise awareness and secure additional state funding for EEE-related work.
While no human cases have been reported in New York, EEE remains a serious concern. The virus, spread by mosquitoes, has a high mortality rate in severe cases.
Neighboring counties, including Wayne, have already received similar health threat designations.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.