2009 PRESS RELEASES

Click here to e-mail this page to a friend.

September 14, 2009
SECOND HORSE IN 2009 TESTS POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS
Contact: Elaine J. Lidholm, 804.786.7686

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) today announced the second positive case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in a horse in 2009.  The horse, an 11-year-old Andalusian male, is from Augusta County.  The horse developed a high fever, refused to eat or drink and was staggering.  He is currently recovering.  The horse had not been vaccinated for WNV.  The first WNV horse in 2009 was from Pittsylvania County.  That horse, also unvaccinated, died from the disease.

Dr. Joe Garvin, head of VDACS’ Office of Laboratory Services, urges horse owners to check with their veterinarians about vaccinating their animals for WNV.  The vaccine initially requires two doses administered three to six weeks apart and takes four to six weeks from the second dose for optimal effectiveness.  Because WNV is a mosquito-borne disease, prevention methods besides vaccination include destroying standing water breeding sites for mosquitoes, use of insect repellents such as DEET and removing animals from mosquito-infested areas during peak biting times, usually dusk to dawn.

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. 

WNV can cause a 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.  Currently, there are live-animal tests for WNV in horses and chickens, but none for other animals, although testing can be done on any dead animal.  Animal owners
should consult their veterinarians or the nearest VDACS Regional Animal Health Laboratory for advice or information should an animal exhibit symptoms of WNV.    

The following Web sites provide more information on WNV and how to protect humans and horses:

Horses:
VDACS -- WNV
USDA -- WNV

Humans:
VDH -- WNV