According to the most recent figures from the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 670 cases of West Nile Virus disease in horses have been reported this year.¹ As the number of cases continues to grow, states west of the Mississippi River–including California, Idaho, Missouri and Utah–have been especially hard hit, accounting for about 80% of the total reported cases.¹ In some heavily affected states, such as Missouri, the number of cases to date in 2006 has surpassed the number of cases reported in the state in all of 2005.^2,3 Equine WNV cases have also been recorded in states east of the Mississippi River, although at lower levels than in the western half of the country.¹;

“As September ushers in cooler temperatures, it’s easy to become complacent about mosquito-borne diseases such as WNV,” says Frank Hurtig, DVM, MBA, associate director of equine veterinary medical affairs at Merial (the company that manufactures RECOMBITEK Equine WNV vaccine). “In reality, now through October is the peak season for WNV, and horse owners must keep their guard up against this potentially deadly infection.”

To prevent further cases of WNV, owners should vaccinate their horses against infection and take steps to reduce exposure to mosquitoes by removing standing water sources, such as stock tanks, unused water troughs, and other containers that can collect water, where mosquitoes can breed.⁴

“All of the equine WNV cases reported in the United States could have been prevented through a simple vaccination,” says Jason Moulton, DVM, from the Animal Health Clinic in Blackfoot, Idaho