Potomac Horse Fever: To Vaccinate or Not?

Your veterinarian will be able to help determine if your horse is at-risk of contracting PHF.
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April Knudson, DVM, is an equine specialist with Merial Veterinary Services. She has a special interest in equine gastrointestinal health, infectious disease, and lameness. Here, she answers a question about vaccinating against Potomac horse fever.


Q: I’ve never heard of a case of Potomac horse fever in my area. Should I vaccinate my horse against it?

A: The best way to determine whether or not you should vaccinate your horse against Potomac horse fever (PHF) is to consult with your veterinarian. He or she should have the latest information about whether or not there have been any cases identified around the country and help you assess whether or not your horse could be at risk.

PHF is most commonly found near creeks and rivers and likely develops when horses ingest infected aquatic insects such as damselflies, caddisflies, and mayflies. Although the disease is named because the initial 1979 outbreak occurred near the Potomac River in Maryland, PHF has since been identified in 43 states, three Canadian provinces, parts of South America, the Netherlands, and France. Multiple cases in the United States were confirmed by the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory as recently as last summer

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