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Wisconsin horse has WNV

Wisconsin has its first recorded case of equine West Nile Virus for the season.  An unvaccinated quarterhorse mare in St Croix County is recovering after being treated by a veterinarian.

State Vet Dr. Paul McGraw reminds horse owners that WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are spread by mosquitoes and the warmer weather of the last couple of weeks has spurred the population.  EEE kills about 90 percent of horses that it strikes, and WNV kills in more than a third of all equine cases.

Symptoms are similar for both diseases: depression, appetite loss, drooping eyelids and lower lip, fever, weakness, twitching, paralysis or lack of coordination, aimless wandering, circling and blindness.

Neither of the viruses is contagious between horses. While humans can become infected by both WNV and EEE, it does not pass between people and horses. Mosquitos biting warm-blooded animals is the only method of transmission.

Besides vaccination, McGraw recommends taking other steps to limit horse exposure to mosquitoes:

• Remove items from surrounding property that could collect stagnant water such as old tires, tin cans, plastic containers.
• Keep rain gutters clean and draining properly.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs, and drain water from pool covers.
• Turn wading pools and wheelbarrows upside down when not in use.
• Empty and replace water in birdbaths at least once a week.
• Consider keeping horses in the barn from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.