Hernando County Mosquito Control announced Thursday that one of its sentinel chickens has tested positive for the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus.

The chicken is located in the northwest corner of Hernando County, off Zebrafinch Ave. west of U.S. 19. The result means mosquitoes carrying the virus are present in the area.

The county maintains several flocks of chickens throughout the county that are tested periodically to determine if they are carrying a mosquito-borne virus. The viruses are not harmful to the chickens, but they can be deadly to humans and horses.

 EEE is a rare disease that is caused by a virus spread by infected mosquitoes. It is a virus that can cause inflammation of the brain and therefore, is very serious in humans.

It is important for residents to know that no human cases have been reported in Hernando County but anyone in the area where the virus is circulating can get infected.  

Symptoms of EEE in humans appear four to 10 days after the bite of an infected mosquito occurs. Symptoms include sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills and vomiting.