Michigan WNV

Michigan reported that an unvaccinated 3-year-old Paso Fino gelding from Ottawa County is recovering from sudden onset of ataxia and difficulty standing. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said the total number of Michigan horses reported as having WNV in 2017 is now eight, one each from the following counties: Clinton, Livingston, Jackson, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Ottawa and Wexford. For more information go to: http://www.michigan.gov/mdard.

Ontario, Canada, WNV

Four additional Ontario horses have been confirmed positive for West Nile virus between August 28 and 30, according to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Three horses were euthanized because of severe neurologic problems.

The horses were located in the Algoma District and in Simcoe, Niagara and Frontenac Counties. 

One horse had mild neurological signs and is recovering with veterinary treatment. This horse had not been vaccinated this year.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs noted that two of the severe cases were unvaccinated horses.  

To date in 2017, there have been six confirmed cases of WNV in horses from Ontario compared to two cases in 2016. For more information on WNV go to http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/ahw/westnilevirus.htm.

This article was created with information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC). The 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.