ALBANY — State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel Aubertine, State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah and State Gaming Commission Acting Director Robert Williams are urging horse owners across New York State to vaccinate their horses against Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV).
Never too late to vaccinate horses
Summer is not too late to vaccinate against Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus since many areas have mosquito activity into the month of November.
In 2012, two cases of EEE were reported in horses in New York State, as well as seven WNV cases. No confirmed cases of either disease have been reported thus far in 2013.
“Every year in New York, cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus pop up in horses across the state — diseases which are largely preventable,” Aubertine said. “Good prevention programs are a key component to any animal health plan, and I encourage horse owners across New York to take the necessary precautions and vaccinate their horses against these diseases today.”
While it is preferable to vaccinate horses against these diseases in the spring before the mosquitoes that transmit them are active, early summer is not too late, since New York often has mosquito activity into the month of November. Vaccines for EEE and WNV can be effective for six to 12 months, and horses should be re-vaccinated at least annually.
In an area where the diseases occur year round, many veterinarians recommend vaccinations every six months. For the vaccine to be effective, it must be handled and administered properly, prior to an anticipated increase in mosquito activity in a local area. For these reasons, state veterinarian David Smith recommends that the vaccines be administered by a veterinarian.
Other prevention methods include eliminating standing water breeding sites for mosquitoes, using insect repellents and removing animals from mosquito-infested areas during peak biting times, usually from dusk to dawn. In addition, water in water troughs should be changed at least twice a week to discourage mosquito breeding.
There is no human vaccine for EEE or WNV. The best way to protect against it is to keep mosquitoes from biting. EEE is rare but serious and can affect both people and horses. Five cases have been diagnosed in humans in New York State since 1971, and all have been fatal. Prior to 2009, there had not been a human case detected in the state in more than 25 years.
WNV is more common than EEE and can also cause serious illness or, in some cases, death. Not all mosquitoes carry WNV, but human cases have been reported in counties across the state. In 2012, there were 107 reported human cases of WNV statewide, nine of which were fatal.
Learn more about Vaccinations for Mosquito-borne Diseases