A second sentinel chicken has tested positive for the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus, prompting Hernando County health officials to issue a cautionary advisory.
The chicken is part of the same flock as the first chicken that tested positive for the virus last month.
The flock is located in the northwest corner of Hernando County, off Zebrafinch Ave., west of U.S. 19.
This means that mosquitoes carrying the EEE 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.
