Vaccinate Horses for West Nile Virus and Other Diseases
	Auburn, August 30, 2002 --- Horse owners should have all their animals vaccinated immediately 
for West Nile virus.  In 2002, there have been nine confirmed cases of WNV in horses in Alabama.
	"Horses are affected by WNV more often than other domestic animals," says Dr. Tony Frazier, 
the state veterinarian.  "The simplest way to ensure their horses do not contract this potentially deadly 
disease is to have the animals vaccinated."
	The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a conditional license for an equine WNV vaccine late 
last summer. Conditional licensing means that the product has been shown to be safe, pure and have a 
reasonable expectation of efficacy in preventing illness caused by WNV. 
	Frazier, whose office is a division of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, says 
horse owners should have their animals revaccinated even if they were inoculated last fall.
	"Since this is a new vaccine, it's not firmly established how long the vaccination will last," says 
Frazier.
	Dr. Cindy McCall, an animal scientist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, says the 
vaccine will only be available from veterinarians.
	"The vaccine manufacturer recommends giving two intramuscular doses three to six weeks 
apart," says McCall.  
McCall says the vaccine may be more expensive than the more routine vaccinations given to 
horses.
	"Cost may be higher, but that's not really surprising," says McCall.  "There is only one 
manufacturer, and they probably have not brought their production up to full capacity yet."
	WNV was first identified in the United States in 1999 in New York and has been spreading for the 
last two years.  It is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain) in 
animals and sometimes in humans. The virus is spread by mosquitoes that get the disease from infected 
birds

	Many horses infected with WNV do not develop any illness, but more than 35 percent of those 
that became sick in 1999 and 2000 died or were euthanized. Other livestock and poultry do not commonly 
show illness if infected with WNV. 	
	Like humans, horses are particularly vulnerable to both WNV and Eastern equine encephalitis.  
Last year in Alabama, more than 160 horses were screened for both diseases. 
	In 2001, there were four equine cases of WNV in Alabama.  Three of the animals made full 
recoveries, but one had to be euthanized as a result of the disease.  In neighboring Florida, there were 
more than 450 horses infected with WNV.
	EEE was identified in 15 Alabama counties, primarily across the southern part of the state.  
Thirty-six horses tested positive for EEE in 2001.	
	McCall says there is little reason for a horse to contract EEE because there is a safe and 
inexpensive vaccine available.
	"Horse owners in Alabama should vaccinate their horses twice a year for EEE or sleeping 
sickness," says McCall.  She adds that the best time to revaccinate is mid to late summer, such as in 
August when some cases of EEE are seen in Alabama.  Revaccinating before this time will increase 
protection against the disease.
	Frazier agrees, "Owners should get EEE boosters now for their horses and again in six months."
	"EEE is far worse than WNV in horses," says Frazier.  "The mortality rate of horses infected with 
EEE is over 90 percent, and from what we know about WNV, the mortality of infected horses is about 30 
to 40 percent."
	EEE is almost always fatal in horses and is characterized by the progressive failure of the horse's 
central nervous system.