It's a horse owner's worst nightmare; a viral disease with a very high death rate. Now a horse in North Central Florida has been infected with Eastern Equine Encephilitis.

Last year there were three reported cases; the year before, there were fourteen. So even though this discovery is alarming, it is not unusual.

Marion County Department of Health Thomas Moore says,"We're not looking at epidemic numbers...this is something that occurs annually because of the tropical warm climate we live in."

However, epidemic or not, the death rate for a horse that has the Triple E Virus is seventy five percent or more. The virus is not transferrable from horses to humans and it can be prevented in horses as long as the horse gets preventive shots twice a year.

By Sarah Pusateri WCJB TV20 News