The Connecticut Department of Agriculture recently reported the first clinical domestic animal case of West Nile virus (WNV) infection during 2002. The two-year-old horse from Canterbury presented on Sept. 20 with a lack of appetite, depression and dragging of its hind legs. A blood sample submitted to the Connecticut Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Connecticut tested positive for antibodies to WNV. The horse was not vaccinated against WNV and had not traveled recently, and is recovering. In 2001, 11 Connecticut horses had WNV infection–seven recovered and four died or were euthanized.

During 2002, WNV infection has been identified in a total of 87 Connecticut towns in all eight counties and continues to be identified in new areas of the state. Until the weather is consistently cool reducing the number of mosquitoes, horse owners should take personal precautions to avoid mosquitoes. At this time, spraying to kill adult mosquitoes is not being recommended.