A miniature horse from Griswold has contracted the state’s first reported case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in a horse this year and has died, the state Department of Agriculture announced today.

“This case underscores the importance of vaccinating horses to protect them from mosquito-transmitted diseases," state Agriculture Commissioner Steven Reviczky said in a news release.

According to agency officials, the horse’s owner noticed the animal was sick on Sept. 8, appearing dull and having a poor appetite. The miniature horse developed a fever, became progressively more depressed and uncoordinated, and continued to deteriorate despite treatment. The attending veterinarian humanely euthanized the animal, according to the news release.

Diagnostic samples were collected at the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Connecticut in Storrs and were submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture National Veterinary Services Laboratories, where they tested positive for EEE.

The miniature horse had no documented history of EEE or West Nile Virus vaccinations and had not traveled recently. Positive EEE mosquitoes have been reported by the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program (www.ct.gov/mosquito) in the area several times since July.

Horse owners are urged to should vaccination records with their veterinarians to ensure that EEE and WNV vaccinations are current and to take precautions against mosquito bites.