WEST NILE VIRUS


The Texas Animal Health Commission recomends vaccinating all horses NOW for maximum protection from West Nile Virus. The vaccine must be given in 2 doses, administered several weeks apart, and full protection does NOT develop until 4-6 weeks after the second dose. It can take up to 10 weeks for the horse to be disease-resistant.


WHAT IS WEST NILE VIRUS?

This is one of the fastest growing health threats to U.S. horses today. Since it's discovery in New York in 1999, this mosquito borne disease has spread quickly through the U.S.

HOW DO HORSES GET WEST NILE VIRUS?

The cycle starts with infected birds, which can travel long distances in a short amount of time. When a mosquito bites an infected bird, it too becomes infected. The mosquito then feeds on a horse, human or other mammal. Once a horse has been bitten, it may take 5-15 days for the signs of the virus to appear.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF WEST NILE VIRUS?

  • Stumbling or tripping, staggering, falling, or inability to rise
  • Muscle weakness or twitching
  • Partial paralysis
  • Loss of appetite
  • Blistering around the lips, teats, or hooves
  • Unusual ticks or maggots
  • Depression or lethargy
  • Head pressing or tilt
  • Impaired vision
  • Wandering or circling
  • Inability to swallow
  • Inability to stand up
  • Fever
  • Convulsion
  • Coman
  • Death

**These symptoms can be confused with Rabies, EPM, Equine Encephalitis, and other serious neurological diseases. If you see these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately!!

HOW DO I PROTECT MY HORSES?

Vaccinate! The U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted a conditional license for the first West Nile virus vaccine for horses. This new vaccine has shown that vaccinated horses develop serum neutralizing antibodies against West Nile Virus and has been safety tested in 649 horses of various ages, breeds, and sizes. The vaccine is available only from a licensed veterinarian.

Here are the latest statistics on WNV in East Texas. It appears we have more REPORTED cases in people than in horses. We assume that vaccination, herd immunity, and clinical diagnosis vs lab testing are factors in the low numbers of equine cases reported. Provided courtesy of Texas Department of State Health Services.
West Nile Virus in Texas, 2005
Sample Type Cases Counties
Bird20014
Human WNF4417
Human WNND8328
Mosquito31422
Horse1918
Other12837
Total 661 *52
West Nile Virus in Texas, 2004
Sample Type Cases Counties
Bird 490 25
Human WNF 0 0
Human WNND 119 40
Mosquito 423 22
Horse 168 71
Other 119 40
Total 1200 *101
West Nile Virus in Texas, 2003
Sample Type Cases Counties
Bird 532 70
Human WNF 0 0
Human WNND 439 86
Mosquito 1056 37
Horse 716 164
Other 450 87
Total 2754 *190
West Nile Virus in Texas, 2002
Sample Type Cases Counties
Bird 519 61
Human WNF 0 0
Human WNND 202 37
Mosquito 259 15
Horse 1699 204
Other 202 37
Total 2679 *213

* West Nile Virus may be found in multiple sources in the same county.
A major source of West Nile horse data is the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.
East Texas Equine Cases 2005
Date City County
1-26-05 Carthage Panola
7-26-05 Jasper Newton
8-01-05 Winnsboro Camp
8-23-05 Clarksville Red River
9-15-05 Tyler Smith
8-26-05 Gilmer Upshur

Call us for an appointment to vaccinate your horse!



Cherokee Animal Clinic
P O Box 416
(Hwy. 84 East)
Rusk, TX 75785

For Appointment or Emergencies
Call 903-683-5315



|Home| |Small Animals| |Boarding| |Library| |Grooming| |Staff| |Large Animals|
|Pet Photos| |Dr. Anthony Holcomb| |Dr. Justin Novak| |Our Clinic| |Links|