West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne viral disease. Infected mosquitoes transmit the virus. In horses, WNV typically causes inflammation of the brain which leads to a loss of coordination, lack of interest in their surroundings and loss of appetite and can cause the horse to go down and be unable to get up without help.
Prevention is a key part of equine health. The disease is preventable by vaccination, as is Eastern Equine Encephalitis, so many veterinarians recommend vaccination at least yearly, and in mosquito-prone areas, every six months. Control the population of mosquitoes on your property by eliminating watery breeding sites.
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