Mississippi's first case of the year of a dangerous virus for both horses and humans has surfaced in the eastern part of the state.

Officials with Seale-Laird Veterinary Clinic in Meridian say they recently treated a horse from Wayne County for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. That horse died.

The virus is transmitted from mosquitos to horses, and in rare cases, humans. It has a high mortality rate.

Local veterinarians say this is the very beginning of mosquito season, so it could get worse.

"Eastern encephalitis is also known as sleeping sickness," said Alison Moore. "Typically, the horses present with a high fever; it can be all the way up to 106. The horse that presented to us was about 103.5."

Mississippi saw only saw one case of EEE in 2008.