2009.04.21
Horses need vaccines, too
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is urging all horse owners to vaccinate their noble steeds now against the West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis.
Boosters are required for the vaccines every six months in mosquito-prone areas, including southeastern Virginia and the Tidewater area.
The decreased number of reported cases of the infections in Virginia horses in the last two years has VDACS officials concerned that horse owners will become lulled into a sense of security that the diseases are no longer a threat in the commonwealth.
"A major factor in the decline in cases in 2007 and 2008 could have been the weather conditions," Dr. Joseph Garvin is quoted in a news release. Garvin is the program manager for VDACS' office of laboratory services. Dry conditions in Virginia may have meant fewer mosquitoes biting over the last two summers, but that may not hold true in 2009.
"It is possible weather conditions this year may again favor increased mosquito populations," Garvin said.
West Nile virus claims the lives of 30 percent of infected horses, and Eastern equine encephalitis is far deadlier, with a 90 percent mortality rate.
An infected horse cannot transfer the disease to healthy horses. Humans are not at risk of getting either illness by handling an infected horse.
Besides keeping your horses up-to-date on their vaccines, the VDACS recommends using insect repellents, dumping stagnant water where mosquitoes breed and staying clear of areas heavily inhabited by 'skeeters. (Um, yeah. Good advice for anyone, I'd say.)
I just wanted to chirp in here that if readers take riding lessons, or their children do, they might want to ask if their trainer would be accepting of a monetary donation to help with getting their horses vaccinated. It's a small gesture that is sure to go a long way.
Comment by Heather Froeschl — April 22, 2009 @ 12:39 pm