West Nile virus detected in Utah horses


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SALT LAKE CITY — Tests have confirmed three cases of West Nile virus in Utah horses, according to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been discovered in stagnant bodies of water in various counties, with horses testing positive for the virus in Box Elder, Uintah and Iron counties. West Nile is not transmissible from horses to humans.

State officials have advised horse owners throughout Utah to protect their animals by vaccinating them for the West Nile virus.

Horse owners can also protect their animals by applying approved repellents to the animals and by controlling mosquitoes and mosquito breeding areas. Horse owners may also protect the animals by putting them in a barn or other enclosed structures.

Department of Agriculture and Food officials recommend that horse owners check with their veterinarian to assure their horse’s vaccination status is current. The West Nile vaccine is available from local veterinarians.

The most common sign of West Nile virus in horses is weakness, usually in the hindquarters, according to agriculture department officials. Weakness may be indicated by a widened stance, stumbling, leaning to one side and toe dragging. In extreme cases, paralysis may follow. Fever is sometimes evident, as are depression and fearfulness.

West Nile virus causes encephalitis and affects the central nervous system.

Horse owners who suspect West Nile viral infection of their animal should contact their veterinarian immediately, state officials said. About one-third of horses that show signs of the illness will die. Eighty percent of West Nile virus in horses occurs in August and September.

Vaccination after exposure may not protect the horse against the disease, according to department officials. The equine vaccine requires two doses and takes approximately five weeks to offer protection from the disease. Once vaccinated, yearly booster shots are necessary.

For more information about the West Nile virus, visit the websites of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, www.ag.utah.gov, or the Utah Department of Health, www.health.utah.gov.

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