This message is from: "ruth bushnell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Earl (Dr. Earl Aalseth Ph.D., DVM) has asked me to send this out to CHC club
members:
Washington State Department of Agriculture
News Release: August 17, 2007
Contact: Jason Kelly (360) 902-1815
West Nile virus found in two Yakima County area horses-first cases of year
OLYMPIA - West Nile virus (WNV), a potentially fatal disease in
horses, has been confirmed in two locations in White Swan southwest of Yakima,
the state Department of Agriculture announced today. A five-year-old gelding
was euthanized Aug. 15. In a separately reported case, an 11-year-old mare
received care from a veterinarian the evening of Aug. 15.
In both cases, the horses showed signs of central nervous system
problems. Neither horse was vaccinated for WNV and neither horse had been out
of the area recently.
The positive test results were reported to WSDA Aug. 17 by the
Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory operated by Washington State
University in Pullman.
These are the first confirmed cases this year of horses contracting
West Nile virus in Washington.
"Horse owners are underestimating the risk that West Nile virus
presents to their horses," said Dr. Leonard Eldridge, state veterinarian.
"The best ways to protect horses are vaccination and limiting exposure to
mosquitoes."
WNV vaccines are currently available and an annual booster shot should
be considered prior to the start of the mosquito season.
Last year, six equine cases of WNV were confirmed in the state, five
from Yakima County and one in King County.
West Nile virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito and can
infect people, horses, many types of birds, and other animals. Humans cannot
contract WNV through contact with an infected horse. Infected horses do not
spread the disease to other horses or animals. Mosquitoes become carriers when
they feed on an infected bird.
Many horses and other animals contracting WNV do not become ill and
show no symptoms at all. Horses that contract WNV may show signs such as loss
of coordination, loss of appetite, confusion, fever, stiffness and muscle
weakness, particularly in the hindquarters. About one-third of horses that
become ill die.
Veterinarians and horse owners should report potential cases of West
Nile virus in horses by calling the State Veterinarian's Office at (360)
902-1878.
More WNV information is available on the following Web sites:
Department of Health: www.doh.wa.gov/WNV
Washington State University: www.wnv.wsu.edu
Department of Agriculture: www.agr.wa.gov. Go to the Animal Health
section after clicking on "Food and Animals."
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_____________________
Jason Kelly
Communications Director
Washington State Department of Agriculture p 360-902-1815 c 360-239-5003
www.agr.wa.gov
====================================================
The Washington State Department of Agriculture Web site is at
http://agr.wa.gov.
The FjordHorse List archives can be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
