News Release: (04-57)
Aug. 12, 2004
Contacts: Dr. Dick Vetter (360) 902-1878 Kate Sandboe (360) 902-1815
Still time for horse owners to vaccinate against West Nile virus
OLYMPIA - Although it is mid-summer, there is still time for horse
owners to vaccinate against West Nile virus (WNV).
This has been an unusually busy summer for biting insects and it is
important that horse owners still take precautions against WNV, which is
spread by infected mosquitoes, said Dr. Dick Vetter, acting state
veterinarian for the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
A bite by an infected mosquito can result in infection of horses,
humans and many species of birds. Last year, Washington and Oregon were the
only states in the country that did not report any positive cases of WNV -
acquired within their boundaries - in any species.
To date, there have been no reports of infection in Washington.
However, other western states, including Idaho, Nevada and California, have
already had several equine cases of the disease, as well as cases of human
infection.
Still, horse owners should consider vaccination, and there are now
two commercially available WNV vaccines for horses. These vaccines work in
different ways, so they do not complement each other. Horse owners should
contact their private veterinarian for more information on the vaccines and
their differences.
"Horse owners still need to take precautions," said Dr. Vetter, "If
horses are being vaccinated for the first time, they need a series of two
shots, three to six weeks apart. If the horse was previously vaccinated with
the series, it needs an annual booster before the beginning of the mosquito
season. Horse owners should contact their private veterinarians for
vaccination and other health information."
The best way to minimize the threat of WNV is to control mosquitoes
and prevent horses from being exposed to adult mosquitoes. Some protective
measures include changing the water in livestock troughs, fountains,
birdbaths and wading pools weekly during mosquito season. Owners may also
consider draining or treating stagnant water, mowing grass and weeds,
putting up screens to protect homes and stables from mosquitoes, and putting
horses in stables at night. Repellents and insecticides should be used only
according to label directions.
Veterinarians and horse owners should alert the state veterinarian's
office if they observe unusual signs of illness in any equine, including
horses, mules, ponies and donkeys. Signs of West Nile virus in these animals
can include loss of appetite, listlessness, stumbling, lack of coordination,
weakness of limbs, partial paralysis and death. While many exposed equines
show no signs of illness, WNV is documented to be fatal in about 30 percent
of cases.
More WNV information is available on the following Web sites:
Department of Agriculture, http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/default.htm
Department of Health, http://www.doh.wa.gov/EHP/TS/ZOO/WNV/WNV.HTML
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/wnv/wnv.htmlNews Release: (04-57) Aug. 12,
2004
Contacts: Dr. Dick Vetter (360) 902-1878 Kate Sandboe (360) 902-1815
Still time for horse owners to vaccinate against West Nile virus
OLYMPIA - Although it is mid-summer, there is still time for horse
owners to vaccinate against West Nile virus (WNV).
This has been an unusually busy summer for biting insects and it is
important that horse owners still take precautions against WNV, which is
spread by infected mosquitoes, said Dr. Dick Vetter, acting state
veterinarian for the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
A bite by an infected mosquito can result in infection of horses,
humans and many species of birds. Last year, Washington and Oregon were the
only states in the country that did not report any positive cases of WNV -
acquired within their boundaries - in any species.
To date, there have been no reports of infection in Washington.
However, other western states, including Idaho, Nevada and California, have
already had several equine cases of the disease, as well as cases of human
infection.
Still, horse owners should consider vaccination, and there are now
two commercially available WNV vaccines for horses. These vaccines work in
different ways, so they do not complement each other. Horse owners should
contact their private veterinarian for more information on the vaccines and
their differences.
"Horse owners still need to take precautions," said Dr. Vetter, "If
horses are being vaccinated for the first time, they need a series of two
shots, three to six weeks apart. If the horse was previously vaccinated with
the series, it needs an annual booster before the beginning of the mosquito
season. Horse owners should contact their private veterinarians for
vaccination and other health information."
The best way to minimize the threat of WNV is to control mosquitoes
and prevent horses from being exposed to adult mosquitoes. Some protective
measures include changing the water in livestock troughs, fountains,
birdbaths and wading pools weekly during mosquito season. Owners may also
consider draining or treating stagnant water, mowing grass and weeds,
putting up screens to protect homes and stables from mosquitoes, and putting
horses in stables at night. Repellents and insecticides should be used only
according to label directions.
Veterinarians and horse owners should alert the state veterinarian's
office if they observe unusual signs of illness in any equine, including
horses, mules, ponies and donkeys. Signs of West Nile virus in these animals
can include loss of appetite, listlessness, stumbling, lack of coordination,
weakness of limbs, partial paralysis and death. While many exposed equines
show no signs of illness, WNV is documented to be fatal in about 30 percent
of cases.
More WNV information is available on the following Web sites:
Department of Agriculture, http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/default.htm
Department of Health, http://www.doh.wa.gov/EHP/TS/ZOO/WNV/WNV.HTML
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/wnv/wnv.html
Washington State University, http://www.wnv.wsu.edu
Washington State University, http://www.wnv.wsu.edu