Virginia’s 2018 mosquito season is proving to be one of the worst in years, animal health officials said as they encouraged owners to ensure their horses EEE and WNV vaccines are up to date.
Officials say “spring shots” can help protect horses from mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis virus.
West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis have high mortality rates in exposed, unvaccinated horses, South Carolina animal health officials said.
Horses that don’t receive annual vaccinations against the five core equine diseases could be facing serious illness or even death.
Recently Oklahoma has averaged approximately 40 cases of mosquito-borne diseases in horses per year.
Since its inception, the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign (UHVRC) has delivered more than 28,000 doses of core vaccines.
State animal health officials are encouraging horse owners to have their animals vaccinated against mosquito-borne diseases–including Eastern equine encephalomyelitis and West Nile virus–and rabies.
Mosquito season has already arrived in some parts of Nevada and, with heavy rain and snowfall earlier in the year, mosquito habitats and breeding sites near standing water are prevalent.
Officials confirmed cases of equine influenza, EHV, equine infectious anemia, and other equine infectious disease outbreaks.
Vaccines against WNV and EEE are highly effective in minimizing disease occurrence if given appropriately, Virginia’s state veterinarian said.
Use this four-step plan to keep equine infectious diseases in check.
A veterinarian can help determine risk factors in your area, the best time for vaccination, and what is right for each individual animal.
Discuss topics from travel plans to your horse’s age with your veterinarian to help ensure yearlong equine wellness.
A veterinarian offers advice the steps to take if your horse could have been exposed to an infectious disease.
Wisconsin and Ontario have now confirmed 24 and two EEE and 22 and 21 WNV cases in horses, respectively.
The 33-year-old American Quarter Horse mare from Euclid was vaccinated in the spring. She is recovering.
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