The Kentucky State Veterinarian’s office has announced that a horse from Bourbon County has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). This is the third equine WNV case confirmed in the commonwealth this year.

In a statement Kentucky Equine Programs manager E.S. "Rusty" Ford said the case was confirmed Sept. 22.

The 3-year-old Standardbred mare with no WNV vaccination history began showing signs of disease on Sept. 18, including acute lethargy, general weakness and ataxia (incoordination), and mild muscle fasciculation (twitching) in neck and chest area. She was hospitalized on Sept. 20, where she continues to receive supportive care. Ford said she is reported to be in stable condition as of Sept. 22.

West Nile is transmitted to horses via bites from infected mosquitoes. Clinical signs for WNV include flulike signs, where the horse seems mildly anorexic and depressed; fine and coarse muscle and skin fasciculation; hyperesthesia (hypersensitivity to touch and sound); changes in mentation (mentality), when horses look like they are daydreaming or "just not with it"; occasional somnolence (drowsiness); propulsive walking (driving or pushing forward, often without control); and "spinal" signs, including asymmetrical weakness. Some horses show asymmetrical or symmetrical ataxia. Equine mortality rate can be as high as 30-40%