WNV Confirmed in Jefferson County, Oregon, Horse

Bend Equine Medical Center reported late last week that it has confirmed West Nile virus (WNV) in a horse residing in Culver, in Jefferson County.
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Bend Equine Medical Center, in Bend, Oregon, reported late last week that it has confirmed West Nile virus (WNV) in a horse residing in Culver, in Jefferson County.

In a Sept. 12 post on its Facebook page, the clinic stated that two other WNV cases have been confirmed in Oregon this year: one in Baker County and one in Union County. In its post, the clinic stated that the horse has not traveled recently, so the disease was likely contracted in Culver.

The clinic said in the post it would provide additional details as they become available.

West Nile is transmitted to horses via bites from infected mosquitoes. Clinical signs for WNV include flulike signs, where the horse seems mildly anorexic and depressed; fine and coarse muscle and skin fasciculations (twitching); hyperesthesia (hypersensitivity to touch and sound); changes in mentation (mentality), when horses look like they are daydreaming or "just not with it"; occasional somnolence (drowsiness); propulsive walking (driving or pushing forward, often without control); and "spinal" signs, including asymmetrical weakness. Some horses show asymmetrical or symmetrical ataxia. Equine mortality rate can be as high as 30-40%

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Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

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