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Vaccinate
From Page A7
fully effective until four to six weeks after the second dose.
West Nile Virus first appeared in the United States in 1999 in New York City. In 2003, there were 5,181 cases of clinical WNV infection reported in horses in 42 states. Virginia experienced 234 equine cases in 2003, a significant increase from 47 cases in 2002.
The virus usually lives in wild birds of many different species. Mosquitoes transmit it from bird to bird. Occasionally a mosquito that has bitten an infected bird will then bite a human, horse, or other mammal and transmit the virus to them. Transmission between horses and humans is extremely unlikely.
Currently, no drugs exist to kill WNV in horses or humans. Treatment for an infected horse consists of supportive therapy to prevent the animal from injuring itself throughout the two to three weeks of the disease. A veterinarian can prescribe treatment tailored to the particular case.
In previous years, more than 35 percent of the horses with confirmed WNV infections either died or were euthanized because of the severity of their condition. Unlike some other encephalitis viruses such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), horses that live through the two to three weeks of illness caused by West Nile Virus generally recover fully with no longterm side effects.
While WNV is found in many tissues in bird hosts (liver, kidneys, heart, brain), in horses the disease is most likely to affect the brain, causing inflammation (encephalitis), which leads to a loss of coordination, lack of interest in their surroundings and loss of appetite. It can cause the horse to go down and be unable to get up without help. Animal owners should consult their veterinarians if an animal exhibits any neurological symptoms such as a stumbling gait, facial paralysis, drooping, or disinterest in the surroundings.
The state health department says the risk to humans is low, but with West Nile Virus activity identified in the state for the past three years, people should take the recommended precautions. Citizens can reduce their risk by preventing mosquitoes from breeding around the home and protecting themselves from mosquito bites.
For more information on West Nile Virus and how to protect humans and horses, log on to the following Web sites:
http://www.vdacs.state.va. us/animals/wnv.html
http://www.vdh.8tate.va.u8 /epi/wnv.htm
http://www.aphi8.u8da.gov/ lpa/issues/wnv/wnv.html
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