Newsdate: Fri, 12 Apr 2013 - 11:31 am
Location: SACRAMENTO, California

As the weather warms up and mosquitoes become more prevalent, California horse owners are advised to consult their veterinarian to ensure their horse’s vaccination status is current for maximum protection against West Nile Virus (WNV).

Mosquito - Carrier of West Nile Virus

As weather warms and mosquitoes are more prevalent, horse owners are advised to consult their veterinarian to ensure their horse's vaccination status is current.

Even though the disease peaked in California a number of years ago, it remains a risk. In 2012, WNV infection was confirmed in 22 California horses, eight of which died or were euthanized. The number of detections was the highest since 2008. In addition, WNV infection was confirmed in 479 people in California, also a significant spike over recent years.

“Outbreaks of West Nile virus are still a risk for horses,” said California State Veterinarian Annette Jones. “Horse owners should contact their veterinarians as soon as possible to make sure their animals’ vaccination status is current. Vaccination will provide optimal protection against the disease.”

Signs of West Nile virus include stumbling, staggering, wobbling, weakness, muscle twitching and inability to stand. Horses contract the disease from carrier mosquitoes and are not contagious to other horses or people. Over the past 10 years, approximately 40% of horses infected with WNV died or were euthanized.

The best way to minimize the threat of West Nile Virus is to control mosquito populations and prevent exposure to them:

• Reduce or eliminate sources of stagnant or standing water that can serve as a breeding ground for  mosquitoes, including old tires, buckets, wading pools and other containers.
• Stall horses during peak mosquito periods (i.e., dawn and dusk);
• Use equine-approved mosquito repellants and/or protective horse gear such as fly sheets, masks, and leg  wraps;
• Place fans inside barns and stalls to maintain air movement, as mosquitoes cannot fly well in wind.

Read more about West Nile Virus - Prevention and Treatment

CDFA is cooperating with the California Department of Public Health to detect and respond to the disease in California.  Horses provide an additional sentinel for WNV disease detection. For more information, click