2009 PRESS RELEASES
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April 20, 2009
HORSE OWNERS URGED TO VACCINATE NOW FOR WEST NILE VIRUS AND EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS
Contact: Elaine Lidholm, 804.786.7686
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) urges all horse owners to vaccinate their animals now against West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) if they have not done so within the last six to twelve months. For the past couple of years, Virginia has seen fewer cases of both diseases, and state officials are concerned that horse owners may be lulled into inaction by the lack of disease activity.
“A major factor in the decline in case numbers in 2007 and 2008 could have been the weather conditions,” says Dr. Joseph Garvin, Program Manager for VDACS’ Office of Laboratory Services. He added that there are more horse owners vaccinating now, resulting in a higher level of immunity statewide, as well an increased level of natural immunity in our horse population. “It is possible that weather conditions this year may again favor increased mosquito populations,” Garvin said, “and since vaccinations for both WNV and EEE require boosters every six months in mosquito-prone areas like southeastern and Tidewater Virginia, people should not relax their guard. We have very safe and effective vaccines for West Nile and EEE, and I urge all horse owners to contact their veterinarians now about vaccinations before the mosquito season gets into full swing.”
All of the equine encephalitis viruses, which include West Nile Virus and EEE, follow a similar pattern of residing most of the year in wild bird hosts and becoming a problem only when there is enough circulating virus and enough mosquitoes present to transmit that virus from the wild bird reservoir into horses or people. .
Typical symptoms of encephalitis in equines include staggering, circling, depression, loss of appetite and sometimes fever and blindness. There is no cure for these diseases, which can kill anywhere from 30 percent (WNV) to 90 percent (EEE) of the horses infected. Humans cannot become infected by handling an infected horse, nor can a horse acquire the virus from another infected horse; however, the presence of an infected horse in the area indicates that mosquitoes carrying EEE or WNV are present and pose a threat to both humans and horses.
Vaccines are available to drastically reduce the incidence of these diseases in horses. The vaccines are effective for six - twelve months, so horses should be re-vaccinated at least annually. In an area where the disease occurs frequently, such as southeast and Tidewater Virginia, most veterinarians recommend vaccination every six months. For the vaccine to be effective it must be handled and administered properly and be given at least two weeks before the horse is exposed to the virus. Additionally, to stimulate full immunity, horses must be vaccinated twice, about 30 days apart, the first year that the horse is vaccinated. Other prevention methods include destroying standing water breeding sites for mosquitoes, using insect repellents, and removing animals from mosquito-infested areas during peak biting times, usually dusk to dawn.
For more information, contact the Office of the State Veterinarian, Division of Animal Industry Services, VDACS, at 804.786.2483. Horse owners should contact their veterinarians for further advice on prevention, diagnosis and treatment.