Three equine cases of West Nile virus (WNV) have been confirmed in West Virginia, according to state veterinarian Lew Thomas, DVM. The cases were detected over the last three weeks, and WNV was confirmed in each horse by the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. Tests on three other suspected cases are pending.

Affected horses were from Cabell and Mercer Counties, and one case was found at the Charles Town Racetrack (in Jefferson County), where the horse had been stabled for several months in an equine population of about 2800. All are recovering, according to Thomas. He said that one of the horses had received the first vaccination of the required two-shot WNV vaccination series. The other two horses were unvaccinated.

Prior to WNV being detected in WV for the first time earlier this summer, “we put out a word of caution telling the people that they should consider vaccination, leaving it up to the veterinarians and horse owners. (According to the company), it takes several weeks to for the vaccine to become fully effective, and we also told them that the vaccination does not always prevent it,” he explained. “It appears to be quite effective in protecting the equine industry.”

“We also told them to get rid of all standing water, and to use every precaution (to keep their horses away from mosquitoes),” Thomas added