Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Horse owners across New York are being urged to vaccinate their animals against both Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile virus.
The warning from state Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball is important since parts of New York have mosquito activity into late November and the insects transmit both diseases from birds to horses.
New York has had six cases this year of EEE upstate in Madison, Wayne, Oneida and Oswego counties, though no cases of West Nile virus have been reported.
Humans cannot become infected by handling or being exposed to an infected horse, and horses cannot spread either virus to or from other horses, people or pets.
Vaccines are available to reduce the incidence of the viruses in horses and can be effective for six to 12 months.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
