Vaccines against WNV and EEE vaccine are highly effective in minimizing disease occurrence if given appropriately. | Photo: Erica Larson/The Horse

Mosquito season has arrived in many parts of Virginia. That means it’s time for owners to start thinking about vaccinating horses against mosquito-borne illnesses such as Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV).

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) encourages all horse owners to check with their veterinarians for vaccination recommendations for their animals. In 2017, Virginia had one case of confirmed WNV in a horse and no cases of EEE.

“Both the WNV and EEE vaccine are highly effective in minimizing disease, if given appropriately,” said Charles Broaddus, DVM, the VDACS’ state veterinarian. “That could be the reason we saw so few cases last year. Without vaccination, we would see many more infected horses. In most cases, private veterinarians will recommend them for their clients