Many Marion County, Fla., horse farm owners took the advice of their veterinarians seriously and vaccinated their horses against the vector-borne West Nile virus (WNV) last autumn. Officials believe it has resulted in a decrease in the number of cases in 2002.


According to statistics from the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 89 horses had reportedly tested positive for the virus in Marion County in 2001. The numbers are significantly lower this year.


“We’ve only had six horses test positive for the virus in Marion County in 2002, and five of those horses hadn’t been vaccinated,” Marion County Department of Health nursing director Carol Jubelirer said.


Farms continue to make sure their horses are inoculated against the virus. “We started vaccinating against the virus about a year ago, at the recommendation of our veterinarians,” Live Oak Stud and Live Oak Plantation general manager Bert Mickel said. “We’ve sprayed around the barns and buildings for mosquitoes, and have taken the necessary precautions for prevention

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