California horse owners have been keenly aware of the problem presented by West Nile virus (WNV) in 2004, but the problem took a deadly turn last year. The virus was discovered in all but one of the Golden State’s 58 counties, leaving only Del Norte County without any reported cases.

According to the California Department of Health Services, 42.2% of reported equine WNV cases in 2004 were fatal. Gregory L. Ferraro, DVM, director of the Center for Equine Health at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, says the equine mortality rate is probably exacerbated by several factors

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