California is bracing for an onslaught of West Nile virus (WNV) in horses this year. N. James MacLachlan, BVSc, PhD, of the University of California, Davis, said that he and his colleagues expect to see the first dead birds infected with WNV in April, followed by the first horse and human cases in June and July. To help California horsemen prepare, the U.C. Davis Center for Equine Health (CEH) coordinated a WNV seminar on March 9 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

At the seminar, which was sponsored by the three major Southern California racetracks and horsemen’s groups such as the Thoroughbred Owners of California, UC Davis veterinarians distributed a recommended vaccination schedule for California horses. Gregory L. Ferraro, DVM, director of the CEH, moderated the seminar and also brought in experts from Florida and South Africa