Medical prophylaxis
No specific therapy for viral encephalitides; supportive care
o administration of fluids to horse unable to drink
o carefully monitored application anti-inflammatory agents
o use of anticonvulsants in cases with central nervous system involvement
The only 2 approved vaccines against VEE are:
Attenuated virus vaccine (made with strain TC-83)
o should be reconstituted with physiological saline and used immediately; any vaccine not used within 4 hours of reconstitution should be safely discarded
o animals over 3 months of age are vaccinated subcutaneously in the cervical region with a single dose; annual revaccination is recommended
o immunogenic when given by intramuscular injection; may cause adverse reactions in recipient