An Escambia County horse is the first positive case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in the state, Agriculture and Industries Commissioner John McMillan Friday.

Now, McMillan is urging horse owners to get their animals vaccinated.

“This is the time of year that we are extremely vulnerable to the spread of mosquito-borne viruses and we need to protect our livestock and ourselves,” McMillan said. “I want to encourage horse owners to vaccinate their horses for both EEE and West Nile Virus as soon as possible.”