Clark County Horse Tests Positive for West Nile Virus
Thursday, September 22nd, 2016 -- 9:53 AM
-On September 16th, the Equine Disease Communication Center reported an unvaccinated Belgian filly in Clark County, as the 6th confirmed case of West Nile Virus in 2016.Four of Wisconsin’s 6 WNV cases have been in Clark County. Horse owners are urged to get horses vaccinated to prevent further spread of WNV and another mosquito-borne disease, eastern equine encephalitis. Both WNV and EEE are caused by viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, and both may cause encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. Both viruses can be fatal to horses. 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, but can be carried by mosquitos from an avian, or bird, host to horses and humans. While humans may also be infected by both WNV and EEE, the viruses do not pass directly between people and horses. Mosquitoes biting warm-blooded animals is the only route of transmission.
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