Counting Medals? Count Mosquitoes, too!

A lot of people are counting medals this week. Will Germany dominate? Are you rooting for Isabel or Anky? Was Australia robbed of the Eventing Gold it deserved?

Take a minute today to look up from the Olympics your television or your monitor and check with your local or state health department. What are the West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) risks in your area?

Today we have the first announcement of EEE in the state of Wisconsin, and the fifth case of EEE in Marion County, the area around uber-horsey Ocala, Florida. Seventy-two horses have been diagnosed with EEE in Florida so far this year.

Two horses in Orange County, California tested positive for EEE. West Nile Virus was recently found in mosquitoes tested in Vermont.

And it doesn't end there. Just a few of the alerts on hand include WNV in Oak Park, Illinois; Greenwich, Connecticut; Salinas, California, and Minnehaha, South Dakota.

EEE recently showed up in Craven County, North Carolina and Carroll County, Tennessee.

Vermont is having one of the worst mosquito seasons on record. Just how many mosquitoes are out there? It sounds like Vermonters have a lot of time on their hands. One researcher set out to determine just how many mosquitoes inhabit an acre of land...they're still counting.

Keep these three facts in mind: 1) Both diseases are carried by mosquitoes; 2) Both diseases can also be transferred by mosquitoes to humans; and 3) Both diseases are highly preventable with a simple vaccination program.

California Reports First Confirmed Case of West Nile Virus in Horses for 2008

The first positive equine case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in California in 2008 has been reported in Riverside County, southeast of Los Angeles. The affected horse, a 15-year-old Quarter horse gelding, died of WNV disease complications, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture today.

WNV is a mosquito–borne virus that was first detected in the United States in 1999 in the New York City area. It may cause a wide range of clinical illnesses from mild, "flu-like" symptoms to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) that may be fatal to both humans and horses. While horses are susceptible to WNV, many horses infected with the disease will not develop any illness and will recover uneventfully. Currently, there is no specific treatment for WNV.

California became the focus for West Nile Virus in 2004 with 540 confirmed clinical equine cases. Over 40 percent of clinically affected horses died or were euthanized. However, in 2006 and 2007 there was a significant decrease in confirmed equine cases with 58 and 28 cases, respectively.

Signs of West Nile Virus in horses include stumbling, staggering, loss of coordination, muscle twitching, circling, and inability to stand. Birds serve as the primary reservoir for harboring the disease. Mosquitoes transmit the disease to humans and horses after feeding on infected birds. Once infected, horses do not spread the disease to other humans or horses.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is urging horse owners to consult their veterinarian to ensure each horse is current on West Nile Virus vaccinations. It is also important to practice mosquito control methods to aid in reducing mosquito-breeding sites.

For more information on West Nile Virus in horses, visit http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/wnv_info.htm.