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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
WEST NILE VIRUS VACCINE FOR HORSES APPROVED; DEM RECOMMENDS PROTECTION, PREVENTION MEASURES TO FARMERS AND HORSE OWNERS PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that a new vaccine to protect horses against West Nile Virus has been approved by the US Department of Agriculture and approved by DEM for sale to veterinarians in Rhode Island.Horses are susceptible to West Nile Virus from the bite of an infected mosquito. Last year, before a vaccine was available, one horse died of the disease in Rhode Island. The USDA has approved a one-year conditional license to market the vaccine. Because of high demand for the vaccine, the manufacturer, Fort Dodge Laboratories of Iowa, reports a temporary backlog of orders, but expects to be able to fulfill all orders by the end of September. Horse owners should check with their veterinarians, and also make sure their horses are vaccinated against Eastern Equine Encephalitis, another mosquito-borne encephalitis transmittable to horses for which a vaccine has been readily available for years. Late summer and early fall are considered high-risk seasons for the transmission of West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis to horses by infected mosquitoes. To date, ten mosquito pools in seven Rhode Island communities have tested positive for West Nile Virus, and a mosquito pool in neighboring North Stonington, CT has tested positive for EEE. The most common signs of viral encephalitis in horses are depression, stumbling, incoordination, hind limb weakness, partial paralysis and muscle twitching. Fever can occur but is not present in all cases. These symptoms can occur in many equine diseases and should be reported to a veterinarian as soon as they are noticed so that a quick and accurate diagnosis can be made. Farms and horse barns are environments where mosquitoes can reproduce in large numbers. Farm workers and animal owners are advised to protect themselves by using appropriate repellants and wearing protecting clothing. They should also inspect barns and farms for mosquito breeding areas and take measures to eliminate collected or stagnant water. Those areas include birdbaths, buckets, feed troughs, water basins, farm equipment and old tires. Water troughs should be refreshed weekly. Livestock ponds can be treated to eliminate mosquito larvae. Horses should not be turned out to pasture and paddock during dawn, dusk and at night as these are times when mosquitoes are usually the most active. Farmers and other horse owners who would like more information should contact their veterinarian, or may call the state veterinarian, Christopher Hannafin, DVM, at DEM's Division of Agriculture at 222-2781 ext. 4503. For general information on protection measures, call DEM's recorded Mosquito Information Line at 222-2793 or HEALTH's Family Health Information Line at 1-800-942-7434, or visit www.healthri.org and/or www.dem.ri.gov on line. -30- |
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