The Kentucky Department of Agriculture announced late Friday, Aug. 23, that 12 more Kentucky horses were confirmed today as having West Nile virus (WNV). One additional horse was confirmed on Thursday, Aug. 22. This brings the number of Kentucky equine WNV cases to 38 in 2002.

The cases confirmed today include three from Fayette County and one each from Adair, Barren, Calloway, Green, Laurel, Logan, Marshall, Todd, and Trigg Counties. Four of the affected horses confirmed today are Tennessee Walking Horses, two are Quarter Horses, and there is one each of an American Saddlebred, Thoroughbred, saddle horse, pony, Paint, and Foxtrotter. Of the 12 newest confirmed cases, five are still alive, six were euthanized, and one died. One of the 12 was vaccinated against WNV. The case that was confirmed Thursday was a 23-year-old Thoroughbred in Fayette County, which was euthanized.

Following is a summary of confirmed equine cases of WNV in equine in Kentucky this year to date:
A total of 38 horses from the following counties: Adair (1), Barren (7), Calloway (1), Carlisle (1), Fayette (9), Fleming (2), Green (1), Greenup (1), Hart (1), Laurel (1), Logan (2), Marion (1), Marshall (1), Nelson (1), Oldham (1), Todd (4), Trigg (1), Washington (1), and Whitley (1).

The breeds of horses affected are: Tennessee Walking Horse (10), Thoroughbred (7), Quarter Horse (7), Standardbred (4), American Saddlebred (2), and one each of draft mix, Arabian, Warmblood, Palomino, pony, Paint, Foxtrotter, and saddle horse