The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has reported that a 5-year-old Quarter Horse gelding from Kennewick is the first equid in the state to contract West Nile virus (WNV) this year. The horse, which was not vaccinated for the disease, has not left the owner’s property recently and his status is improving.

The Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Pullman, operated by Washington State University, reported the positive test results to WSDA’s state veterinarian’s office on Friday.

Last year Washington had five confirmed equine WNV cases in Benton, Franklin, Grant, Okanogan, and Yakima counties.

West Nile virus is spread to horses by mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. The disease sickens people, horses, birds and other animals, but it does not spread directly from horses to people or other animals