A 10-year old mare from north Pasco is the second case of equine West Nile virus (WNV) reported in Washington this year, according to an Oct. 10 statement from the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The horse was euthanized.

The horse was not vaccinated for the disease and had not left the state. Washington State University’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Pullman reported the positive test results to the state veterinarian’s office earlier this week.

The only other confirmed case of WNV in a Washington horse this year was reported in late September for a horse pastured in Outlook in Yakima County. 

“A killing frost will reduce the likelihood of further cases for the year,” said Acting State Veterinarian Paul Kohrs, DVM. “Horse owners in areas of the state where this disease will overwinter should consider vaccinating for West Nile in 2014 at least a month before the onset of the mosquito season

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