The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry’s Animal Industry Services is encouraging horse owners to take precautions and vaccinate their animals to protect against the West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).

In years past, Oklahoma averaged approximately 40 equine cases per year of the potentially deadly mosquito-borne diseases. There were no reported human deaths in 2016; however, the state health department recently reported the first human West Nile death in 2017.

The bird population serves as the reservoir for the viruses and mosquitos then transmit the virus to horses and humans. Mosquitos most likely to transmit WNV and EEE lay their eggs in small pools of standing water. Once the adult mosquito hatches, they can become infected with both WNV and EEE after feeding on an infected host, such as a bird carrying the virus. Within 10 to 14 days, the mosquito can transmit the virus to both humans and horses.

“Signs of West Nile virus include weakness, fever, incoordination, seizures, blindness, and difficulty getting up,” said Assistant State Veterinarian Michael Herrin, DVM. “There are several vaccines available, and we are encouraging horse owners to visit their veterinarians and determine the vaccination protocol that will best fit their operations