The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has announced that an unvaccinated 8-year-old Paint gelding from Augusta County has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). This is Virginia's first equine WNV case of 2014.

Joe Garvin, DVM, head of the VDACS’ Office of Laboratory Services, urged horse owners to check with their veterinarians about vaccinating their animals for WNV.

“WNV is a mosquito-borne disease,” he said, “and we generally start seeing our first cases in August and September. The disease is preventable by vaccination, as is Eastern equine encephalitis, so many veterinarians recommend vaccination at least yearly, and in mosquito-prone areas, every six months.”

He added that mosquito season in Virginia can run through November