This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Just came back from a very informative draft horse club meeting. A well respected local vet came with a bunch of info for us on West Nile Here are the highlights (I don't guarantee any of this is 100% correct so take it as you wish, just interesting info!)
Approved in October by USDA (funny how we just found out last week) This means that your vet can give the shots to you to administer yourself. they are not required to do anything. Although Ft Dodge would like info still. West Nile goes in 3-4 year cycles and has been around for decades in other countries. We are the only country that has even bothered with a vaccine. Notice how the cases in the East coast have dwindled. Yep its because they are at the tail end of their cycle. We are just beginning ours here in the West and the Midwest is in full swing. It all has to do with birds more than mosquitoes. As the bird population gets the disease, The non-immune get sick and die. The remaining have natural antibodies and when they and their offspring die out, The cycle starts again with the next generation of non-immune birds. Hence the aproximate 10 year cycle. 85% of all West Nile cases in the US happen in August, Sept and Oct. When the songbirds are in migration. Has not much to do with height of mosquito season. So just because you see a mosquito. Doesn't Mean West Nile is ramped in your area yet. Keep an eye out more for the birds (alive and dead) robins, crows, bluejays seem to contract the disease and die in great numbers but it still corresponds with migratory birds as far as timing of the outbreaks. My vet says you need maximum immunity in Aug-Oct. So he is waiting to vaccinate his horses until April 1. (In his opinion, of course) The vaccine MAY!!!!!!!!!!! keep your animal from getting sick They do see a difference in the way an animal gets sick, vaccinated vs. non vaccinated. It seems, the old and young are most at risk for getting the disease. BUT once your horse gets it (whether it's healthy to begin with or not). and is sick from the virus, There is no rhyme or reason as to which one will die or live. 33% fatality. Steve White, what do you think of this info?? Is he correct in most? He had handouts from UC Davis, I think it was, that had all this info on it. Michele Noonan Bitteroot Valley, Mt (where we are Virus free so far, it never made it over the Continental Divide last year)
