West Nile virus (WNV) remains on the radar of Kentucky agriculture officials; two new equine cases were confirmed Friday (Sept. 8). Nine horses have been infected with the disease in 2006.


A 4-year-old Rocky Mountain Horse mare in Adair County showed signs of the disease on Sept. 2 and was subsequently euthanatized. She had no WNV vaccination history. The second horse, a 1-year-old Quarter Horse filly with no vaccination history, had a disease onset date of Sept. 9 and is still alive in Hardin County.


Disease confirmation was based on the horses’ clinical signs and the WNV IgM diagnostic test.


Rusty Ford, staff assistant and equine programs manager in the office of the state veterinarian, reports all WNV cases seen in Kentucky this year have involved young horses. Seven horses were less than three years of age, one was four, and one was six. None of the horses had been vaccinated for WNV

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