6740 Center Hill Road
Olive Branch, MS 38654
901-854-6773 (85-HORSE)
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West Nile Virus Update
(added 1/6/2005)
Since first appearing in Connecticut in 1999, West Nile Virus (WNV) has followed bird migration patterns and spread throughout the country. California horses are the most recently and severely affected- over 250 confirmed cases this year. The California horses represent a population with no immune protection from WNV, either active immunity from natural exposure or acquired immunity from vaccination. Of this population, it is expected that 30% will die from the virus or require euthanasia from complications of the disease. Of the survivors, an estimated 17% will retain neurologic deficits.
There are only two ways a horse can acquire protective antibodies against WNV: (1) by surviving active infection or (2) by timely and proper vaccination. Based on our current knowledge of the disease, we continue to recommend a two dose initial series of vaccine reactions or any cases of West Nile Virus- despite its confirmed presence in birds, mosquitoes and horses in our region. As reported in the October 2004 issue of Compendium, researchers have detected “evidence that points to active virus transmission throughout the winter in the South”. Thus, it is especially important that any horses traveling south in the winter months receive booster vaccinations for protection against West Nile Virus.