Anyone interested in learning more about West Nile virus (WNV), its effects on horses, treatments and vaccines are invited to attend a free seminar presented by the American Quarter Horse Association and American Quarter Horse Foundation’s Education Department.

The program, which begins at 6 p.m. on Mon., Sept. 9, will be held inside the American Quarter Horse Heritage Center & Museum, 2601 I-40 East. This special program is open to the general public
and no reservations are necessary.

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, West Nile virus (WNV) is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, and can infect people, horses, many types of birds, and some other
animals. Horses become infected the same way humans do, by the bite of infectious mosquitoes while biting to take blood.

The virus is located in the mosquito’s salivary glands. During the “bloodmeal,” the virus is injected into the blood system of the horse. The virus then multiplies and may cause illness. The mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds or other animals. Following transmission by an infected mosquito, the virus multiplies in the horse’s blood system and crosses the blood brain barrier infecting the brain. The virus interferes with normal central nervous system functioning and causes inflammation of the brain