The total number of Texas horses testing positive for West Nile virus (WNV) has plateaued at 33.

The number of positive results confirmed in equine tested by the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) has remained at this level for two weeks. The cooler fall weather brings mosquito relief for much of the state, which aids in slowing the spread of this disease.

As of Nov. 11, the TVMDL can confirm that horses in the following counties have tested positive for WNV:

1. Houston County
2. Atascosa County
3. Jefferson County (3 cases)
4. Roberts County
5. Sterling County
6. Parker County
7. Randall County
8. Liberty County
9. Scurry County
10. Hutchinson County
11. Taylor County
12. Nolan County
13. Trinity County
14. Robertson County (2 cases)
15. Midland County
16. Orange County
17. Harris County (3 cases)
18. Victoria County
19. Cooke County
20. Chambers County
21. Erath County
22. Freestone County
23. Smith County
24. Nueces County
25. Collin County
26. Wichita County
27. Lavaca County
28. Jackson County

This year’s distribution of positive cases dispels the general public’s belief that WNV is only a threat in low-lying or coastal areas, as positive cases were found from the Panhandle to Dallas and from South Texas to the Houston area. In many of the positive cases, the horse had not been vaccinated