Oklahoma state veterinarians are encouraging horse owners to have their animals vaccinated against the potentially deadly West Nile virus.


The virus is carried by mosquitoes and officials say because of the rainy summer mosquitoes are prevalent and the virus season is likely to extend into October.


Assistant state veterinarian Michael Herrin, DVM, says there are about 250,000 horses in Oklahoma and since 2002 more than 1,100 horses have contracted West Nile virus.


There have been no confirmed cases of the virus in horses this year in the state

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