Two horses in California were confirmed positive for West Nile virus (WNV) on August 10, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Both horses displayed severe neurologic signs.
An unvaccinated 8-month-old Quarter Horse filly in Kern County was euthanized due to the severity of her disease. An unvaccinated 3-year-old Quarter Horse filly in Contra Costa County is recovering.
For 2017, a total of five horses have been confirmed positive for WNV in California.
The CDFA continually monitors and investigates equine neurologic cases for the presence of WNV in California. CDFA urges horse owners to consult their veterinarian concerning a WNV vaccination program to ensure maximum protection of their horses.
For more information visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/WNV_Info.html.
This article was prompted by 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.
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