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Third West Nile case in state
A third case of West Nile virus has been confirmed in a 20-year quarter horse in New Kent County. The horse's symptoms were severe and it was euthanized. Like the previous two confirmed cases – one in Pittsylvania County, one in Augusta County – the horse had not been vaccinated for the disease.
Dr. Joe Garvin, head of laboratory services for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, noted that the three confirmed cases have come from a wide geographic area of the state, and he encouraged to horse owners to check with veterinarians about vaccinating their animals for West Nile virus, which is spread from birds to mammals by mosquitoes.
No drugs exist to kill the virus in either horses or humans. There are live-animal tests for horses and chickens, but none for other animals.
Symptoms include stumbling gait, facial paralysis, drooping and disinterest in surroundings.
Go to the department’s Web site for information on the virus in animals, and to the Virginia Department of Health Web site for information on the virus in humans.
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