West Nile virus (WNV) has been diagnosed in a 33-year-old Quarter Horse mare in Euclid, Minnesota. The attending veterinarian reported that on October 9 the horse presented with incoordination and exhibited weakness in both hind legs. The horse responded to supportive care to control pain and inflammation and showed significant improvement in clinical signs within a week. Laboratory results confirmed West Nile virus on October 23. The horse’s vaccine history is unknown prior to 2015 when the reporting veterinarian began vaccinating the mare annually, with the most recent vaccine being administered this spring.
For more information go to https://www.bah.state.mn.us/news_release/west-nile-virus-confirmed-in-pennington-county-horse/.
The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) 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.
