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Horse Tests Positive for West Nile

Thursday, 27 August 2015 05:41

West Nile rears its ugly head again - this time in an Elgin County

Health officials in Elgin County say a horse has tested positive for the West Nile virus.

This is the second horse to test positive for West Nile in Ontario. Two dead crows were found to have the disease in London earlier this year. 

Lead Veterinarian of Animal Health and Welfare with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs Dr. Allison Moore tells Heart FM one thing to take away from this is that West Nile is too prevalent in the area. 

"We have had at least one case of West Nile every year for the past several years, and certainly the number of cases depends a bit on the biology of the mosquitoes from that year. Public Health Ontario actually does mosquito tracking, so they get an idea of the number of positive mosquito pools for West Nile, so we know the virus has been in the area for quite a while." 

Moore says they actually do have a vaccine that is available to horses to protect them from West Nile as it can prove to be fatal. They do not have a vaccine for humans and the best way to protect yourself from West Nile is to wear long sleeves and pants in the evening and night hours, and by using insect repellent containing DEET. 

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