Do horses recover from West Nile?
What is the prognosis for West Nile virus? Many horses recover fully from WNV infection. Some that recover exhibit long-term effects, including gait and behavioral abnormalities. The prognosis is poorer for horses that are severely affected.
How does West Nile start?
Most West Nile virus infections happen during warm weather, when mosquitoes are active. The incubation period — the period between when you’re bitten by an infected mosquito and the appearance of signs and symptoms of the illness — generally ranges from four to 10 days.
Can a horse get West Nile from a mosquito?
Neither horses nor humans circulate enough virus in their blood when they acquire the disease to pass the virus back to mosquitoes. West Nile virus cannot be spread directly from horse to horse or from horse to human. A mosquito that has previously fed on an infected bird is required in all cases.
How long does it take for a horse to recover from West Nile?
In horses that recover, most return to normal functioning within 1 to 6 months, but some owners of horses with West Nile virus infection have reported some longterm effects. Vaccination helps protect against West Nile virus encephalomyelitis.
Is the West Nile virus contagious to humans?
Horses and humans are considered to be dead-end hosts for WNV; the virus is not directly contagious from horse to horse or horse to human. The case fatality rate for horses exhibiting clinical signs of WNV infection is approximately 33%.
When to give a WNV shot to a horse?
The vaccine shots are of no value if they aren’t given prior to exposure to the disease. If the horse develops WNV it is too late for the shot. The vaccines require two doses, administered three to six weeks apart, and full protection doesn’t develop until four to six weeks after the second dose. Sometimes a third does is recommended.
How often does a horse die from West Nile virus?
The case fatality rate for horses exhibiting clinical signs of WNV infection is approximately 33%. Data have supported that 40% of horses that survive the acute illness caused by WNV still exhibit residual effects, such as gait and behavioral abnormalities, 6 months post-diagnosis.
The vaccine shots are of no value if they aren’t given prior to exposure to the disease. If the horse develops WNV it is too late for the shot. The vaccines require two doses, administered three to six weeks apart, and full protection doesn’t develop until four to six weeks after the second dose. Sometimes a third does is recommended.
WNV is not contagious and can’t pass between horses or humans. Mosquitoes pass WNV from infected birds to horses. Signs of WNV depend on the severity of the case. If your horse experiences any of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately. It’s important to rule out any other neurologic disease.
When was the West Nile virus first identified?
West Nile virus, a flavivirus, was first identified as a cause of infection and fatal encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord and brain) in horses and people in Egypt, Uganda and France in the early 1960’s.
