The number of WNV cases continues to rise in Nebraska horses, with more than 600 testing positive with the disease. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture updated its numbers on Sept. 9, with 647 positive equine cases documented in 83 Nebraska counties. The first equine case in Nebraska was confirmed Aug. 6.

The total confirmed cases include: Sioux-5; Scotts Bluff-72; Kimball-1; Dawes-3; Box Butte-6; Morrill-5; Cheyenne-1; Sheridan-8; Cherry-16; Grant-7; Arthur-4; Keith-19; Perkins-5; Chase-2; Dundy-1; McPherson-2; Hayes-2; Hitchcock-1; Lincoln-27; Logan-6; Keya Paha-2; Brown-26; Loup-4; Custer-24; Dawson-25; Gosper-1; Phelps-5; Harlan-2; Frontier-3; Red Willow-4; Furnas-2; Boyd-2; Holt-21; Garfield-4; Wheeler-5; Valley-10; Greeley-4; Sherman-2; Howard-6; Buffalo-15; Hall-24; Kearney-4; Franklin-2; Adams-9; Webster-7; Knox-4; Antelope-4; Boone-2; Nance-2; Merrick-4; Hamilton-14; Clay-33; Nuckolls-9; Thayer-1; Jefferson-2; Fillmore-8; Saline-12; York-7; Polk-5; Butler-5; Seward-7; Saunders-6; Douglas-15; Sarpy-3; Cass-2; Otoe-3; Pawnee-1; Lancaster-9; Gage-2; Johnson-1; Washington-8; Dodge-10; Colfax-6; Platte-14; Madison-9; Cuming-8; Burt-3; Pierce-5; Wayne-3; Cedar-4; Dixon-4; Dakota-4; Thurston-2.

WNV causes encephalitis in humans and horses. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, which acquire it from infected birds. Horses, mules, and  donkeys are infected when bitten by an infected mosquito. The virus does
not spread from equid to equid or from equid to human. Clinical signs include loss of appetite, depression, fever, stumbling, weakness of hind limbs, paralysis of hind limbs, impaired vision, and convulsions.

As new equine cases of WNV are confirmed, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture updates a map documenting the number of confirmed cases and counties: https://www.agr.state.ne.us/division/bai/westnile.htm