West Nile Virus Update: Cause for Concern, Not for Panic

by Brandon Enyeart

We are all probably a little tired of hearing about West Nile Virus (WNV) by now. It seems like ages ago when we all feared the human race would be wiped out in a matter of hours once the disease hit our state. Okay, maybe I was the only one. However, even though the disease has not turned out to be the next black plague for humans, it has become very troublesome for horse owners--especially for those who live in Washington state.

For the second year in a row, Washington leads the nation in confirmed cases of WNV. As of August 25th, 35 cases had been reported nationwide, and 20 of those were in Washington State. So far, there are no confirmed cases in western Washington. However, in eastern Washington, Adams, Benton, Grant, Franklin, Kittitas and Yakima counties have all been hit by WNV. Although WNV is a very serious and potentially fatal disease for its equine victims, thankfully only 2 of the 25 cases (a Quarter Horse gelding in Pasco and a 16-year-old Paint mare in Benton City) have ended in death so far. Most of the other cases appear to be on the mend.

West Nile Virus continues to spread across the rest of the Northwest. British Columbia reported their first ever equine case this month in the Okanagan Valley, and the disease has now been reported in Fraser Valley as well. British Columbia was one of the few areas of North America without a reported case until now. Both horses are expected to make a full recovery.

With ages of infected horses ranging from a yearling to a 20-year-old mare, and breeds ranging from an Arabian to a Tennessee Walking Horse/Appaloosa cross, the only common bond between all of these cases is a lack of (or out of date) vaccinations for WNV. Just because there have only been two fatalities so far doesn’t mean this isn’t a very serious equine disease. Discussing the WNV vaccination and how to keep your animals up to date with your veterinarian can save you and your horse a lot of heartache in the long run.

All that said, this is cause for concern, not for panic. Even with numbers in Washington steadily higher than other parts of North America and the spread into British Columbia, this is a preventable disease if handled in the right way. Experts agree that the last thing we want from these developments is a renewed hysteria. Remember to check back with www.nwhorsesource.com for the latest in WNV news, and talk to your veterinarian about the best course of action for you and your horses.