Source: NCDA&CS, 5/4/22
“Mosquito-breeding season in North Carolina lasts from spring until the first frost and horses are at risk if not properly vaccinated,” Troxler said. “EEE is fatal 90 percent of the time in horses and WNV has a fatality rate of 30 percent. But, both diseases are preventable by vaccination.” Last year, there were three recorded cases of EEE and two cases of
WNV. State Veterinarian Dr. Mike Martin recommends that equine owners
talk to their veterinarians about an effective vaccination protocol to protect
horses from mosquito-borne diseases. The combination vaccination initially
requires multiple injections for horses, mules and donkeys that have no prior
vaccination history. Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days, so removing any source of standing water can reduce the chance of exposing animals to WNV or EEE. Keeping horses in stalls at night, using insect screens and fans, and turning off lights after dusk can also help reduce exposure to mosquitoes. Insect repellants can be effective if used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Symptoms of EEE include impaired vision, aimless wandering, head
pressing, circling, inability to swallow, irregular staggering gait, paralysis,
convulsions and death. Once a horse has been bitten by an infected mosquito, it
may take three to 10 days for symptoms to appear. Symptoms of WNV include fever, weakness or paralysis of hind
limbs, impaired vision, head pressing, seizures and aimless
wandering. People, horses and birds can become infected from a bite by a
mosquito carrying the diseases, but there is no evidence that horses can
transmit the viruses to other horses, birds or people through direct
contact. “It’s also a great time to make sure your animal is current on its rabies vaccination,” Troxler said. “In 2021, seven cases of livestock infected with rabies was reported to our Veterinary Division. Since January we have already had four positive cases in livestock. Most of the cases have been in cows but all livestock are naturally curious animals, which puts them at risk for a bite if a rabid animal gets through their fence line.”
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