In an up-date Washington State Agricultural officials are again encouraging horse owners to get their animals vaccinated against two deadly viruses, including one that caused an outbreak in central Wisconsin last year.
Wake up call for horse owners
Eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus are caused by viruses transmitted by infected mosquitoes.
Eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus are caused by viruses transmitted by infected mosquitoes.
More than 80 horses have died from EEE since 2001, including an outbreak that year that killed 42 horses. Thirty-six horses in Wisconsin contracted the disease last year, including seven in Clark County, six in Taylor County and four horses each in Lincoln and Marathon counties.
“That might have been a wake up call to horse owners, but in case it wasn't, we wanted to poke them a little bit,” said Donna Gilson, a spokeswoman for the state agriculture department.
Officials say regular vaccinations are important to prevent outbreaks from occurring. Horses require two doses of the vaccination initially and then boosters at least annually.
Gilson says horse owners can take other measures to limit their animal's exposure to mosquitoes, including removing any standing water from their property and keeping horses in the barn from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.