First 2017 Equine West Nile Virus Case for Virginia

he Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services identified a 10-year-old Saddlebred gelding from Wythe County as the state’s first positive case of West Nile virus in 2017.

The first 2017 West Nile virus case in Virginia was in Wythe County. Google Maps

The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) offers alerts about equine diseases that have been confirmed by reliable sources. The following information is from the EDCC.

Wythe County, Virginia, WNV Case

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) identified a 10-year-old Saddlebred gelding from Wythe County as the state’s first positive case of West Nile virus (WNV) in 2017. The positive was confirmed at the National Veterinary Service Laboratories on Friday July 7, 2017. It is the first case in Virginia since August 2015. 

Clinical signs included loss of control of body movements and partial paralysis in the hind limbs, dazed appearance and lack of ability to stand. 

The horse, which was not vaccinated, was euthanized due to the severity of the disease. 

For more information go to: https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Outside%20Linked%20Documents/DiseaseFactsheet_WNV.pdf

About EDCC

The Equine Disease Communication Center works to protect horses and the horse industry from the threat of infectious diseases in North America. The communication system is designed to seek and report real time information about disease outbreaks similar to how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerts the human population about diseases in people.

The goal of the EDCC is to alert the horse industry about disease outbreak information to help mitigate and prevent the spread of disease. Ultimately frequent and accurate information about diseases outbreaks improves horse welfare and helps to prevent negative economic impact that can result from decreased horse use due to a fear of spreading infection. As part of the National Equine Health Plan the EDCC will serve as part of the communication to help educate and promote research about endemic and foreign disease.

Working in cooperation with state animal health officials and the United State Department of Agriculture, the EDCC seeks information about current disease outbreaks from news media, social media, official state reports and veterinary practitioners. Once information is confirmed, it is immediately posted on this website and messages sent to all states and horse organizations by email. Daily updates are posted until each outbreak is contained or deemed no longer a threat.

The EDCC is made possible by generous donations from organizations and horse owners. Please visit our sponsors that have generously supported this program for the benefit of the health and welfare of horses. To learn how you can help go to SUPPORT.

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