The Kentucky State Veterinarian's office has announced that a Shelby County horse has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) This is the third confirmed case in Kentucky this year.
Horses - humans - West Nile Virus
According to the AAEP, West Nile virus is the leading cause of arbovirus encephalitis in horses and humans in the United States, with horses representing 96.9% of all reported non-human mammalian cases of West Nile Virus disease.
According to the AAEP, West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of arbovirus encephalitis in horses and humans in the United States. Since 1999, over 25,000 cases of WNV encephalitis have been reported in U.S. horses. Horses represent 96.9% of all reported non-human mammalian cases of WNV disease.
The case fatality rate for horses exhibiting clinical signs of WNV infection is approximately 33%. Data have supported that 40% of horses that survive the acute illness caused by WNV still exhibit residual effects, such as gait and behavioral abnormalities, 6-months post-diagnosis.
Vaccination for West Nile virus is recommended as a core vaccine and is an essential standard of care for all horses in North America.
Four USDA licensed vaccines are currently available (two are inactivated whole WN virus vaccines; one is a non-replicating live canary pox recombinant vector vaccine and one is an inactivated flavivirus chimera vaccine.
All of the current WN vaccine products carry one year duration of immunity, with challenge, consistent with their respective label claims.