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West Nile Virus & Core Vaccinations |
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Courtney Terry, DVM Courtney Terry is a 24 year
old graduate of Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary
Medicine. Courtney competed in both the 2002 Miss Rodeo America Pageant and the 2002 Miss Rodeo USA Pageant.
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Update by
Courtney Terry, DVM Related Article:
West Nile It’s that time of year again! Mosquito season is in full swing. (For those of you who are lucky enough to live in mosquito-free areas, I envy you!) Alarmed by the rampant spread of West Nile Virus in recent years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other equine health experts are strongly urging horse owners to vaccinate their horses as soon as possible against the mosquito-borne disease. (For those of you who keep up, yes, I know I have addressed this topic before, but it is worth revisiting!) Horses should be vaccinated before mosquito season to maximize the vaccine’s benefits. Vaccination with a product such as West Nile Innovator (manufactured by Fort Dodge Animal Health) has been proven to be effective in reducing the incidence of the disease. More than 13 million doses of West Nile Innovator vaccine have been administered nationally in the past two years. It is important to note that while the number of confirmed equine cases has decreased, the Center for Disease Control reports that the number of human cases of the disease has not declined. This data confirms the efficacy of vaccination against West Nile Virus in horses. It is important to remember that the number of equine cases has declined because horses are being vaccinated. I was alarmed to hear someone recently decline a West Nile vaccine based on the fact that “we aren’t seeing many cases any more.” It is still VERY important to vaccinate horses against West Nile Virus! On the same subject, remember that West Nile is NOT the only disease transmitted by mosquitoes (or even the most important mosquito-borne illness in some areas.) While our veterinary practice saw no cases of West Nile Virus last year, we saw several cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, all of which resulted in fatalities. Vaccines that include Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis, tetanus, and West Nile Virus are now available through your veterinarian. One distinct advantage of these products is that they only require one needle stick as opposed to three. In many areas, the risk of a horse contracting one of the other diseases in the combination vaccine is much greater than their risk of contracting West Nile. It is also worth noting that West Nile Virus is a treatable disease. (Novartis Animal Health has recently begun to market an antidote for West Nile Virus, available through your vet.) Tetanus or “lockjaw” and encephalitis (Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan varieties) are almost always fatal. Your veterinarian may recommend other yearly vaccinations based on the part of the country you live in, the age of your horse, and your show/rodeo schedule. Vaccination is inexpensive insurance against these deadly diseases. SOURCE: Fort Dodge Animal Health |
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