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West Nile virus confirmed in North Dakota horse
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)--North Dakota has its first confirmed case of West Nile virus in a horse in two years, the state Department of Agriculture says.
The discovery of the virus in a Burleigh County horse shows the need for horse owners to vaccinate their animals or give annual booster shots, State Veterinarian Susan Keller said May 17.
"You want to make sure animals are vaccinated prior to seeing mosquitos in the area," she said. "It takes several weeks for the immunizations to take full effect."
The horse has been treated and is no longer showing symptoms, Keller said.
The number of West Nile horse cases in North Dakota has declined from more than 500 in 2002 to none last year.
"Vaccination is by and large given credit for the decrease," Keller said. "It's a combination of vaccination and also maybe natural immunity. Not all animals, just like not all people, are susceptible."
She said it is not unusual to have a confirmed case of the virus this early in the year, because it is possible for a virus-carrying mosquito to survive the winter. However, most cases in animals occur later in the summer, as mosquitos hatch and become more numerous, Keller said.
West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes that feed on infected birds. It causes a form of encephalitis or inflammation of the brain.
The virus was blamed for five human deaths in the state in 2003, when 617 human cases were reported. Last year, 20 human cases were reported, with two deaths. There have been no reported cases in North Dakota this year, said Tracy Miller, manager of the Health Department's West Nile virus surveillance program.
One of the reasons for the drop in cases last year is that people are more aware of the virus and measures they can take to protect themselves, Miller said. Those measures include using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and getting rid of stagnant water that serves as mosquito breeding grounds.
"This year, the Health Department is going to be trying to remind people: although we didn't see that many cases last year. West Nile virus is still here," Miller said.
The department usually starts its West Nile surveillance program in early June, monitoring the virus through Labor Day or later, depending on the weather.
"We typically start to see more cases of West Nile virus in late July, early August and into September," Miller said.
Date: 5/25/05
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