West Nile virus (WNV) has been confirmed in a dead crow in Jefferson County, Fla. The crow was submitted for testing on June 18, and results were released July 6. The disease, which is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, made its debut in the Western Hemisphere in birds, horses, and humans in the late summer of 1999 in New York. It has survived two winters, and in 2000 it spread as far west as Erie County, Pa., and as far south as North Carolina. Of 25 reported equine positives in 1999, nine died or were euthanized; of 60 equine cases in 2000, 23 died or were euthanized. The Florida positive bird finding means that the virus has traveled south without detection in South Carolina or Georgia.

“With everything that has occurred, we expected (West Nile virus), and we’re going to treat it like other arboviral diseases,” said Dr. Leroy M. Coffman, Florida State Veterinarian and the Director of Animal Industry in Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DOACS). “The standard protocols are already there, we just hope that we can get a vaccine available to the horse owners soon.”

The state is experienced in handling other mosquito-borne diseases. Florida recently had confirmation of 27 horses with Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), for which there is a vaccine. According to Coffman, a WNV vaccine is being tested in the Northeast, and could be available as early as this fall.

Florida authorities are encouraging Florida residents who discover a dead bird, to report it at https://wld.fwc.state.fl.us/bird. More information on WNV in Florida can be found at https://www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/epi/htopics/arbo/index.htm, or by calling the WNV hotline at 888/880-5782. Visit https://thehorse.com/wnv for updates