Officials Confirm State's 5th Case of West Nile Virus

The Department of Agriculture officials announced that state's 5th case of West Nile virus (WNV) in a horse has been confirmed on Friday in Yakima County. Of the five horses, 4 were in Yakima County and one was in Grant County.

On Thursday, the 17 year old, thoroughbred horse died and the blood sample taken from the horse tested positive for the West Nile virus. The health official's told that the horse was not vaccinated against the virus.

In 2007, eight horses were confirmed for the disease -- all in Yakima County.

During the months of August and September, horses are at greater risk of being bitten by infectious mosquitoes, hence, the horse owners should take necessary measures to prevent the disease such as draining sources of standing water on their property, such as in troughs, yards or bird baths. In this way, they can reduce the number of places mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed.

The virus starts multiplying in the blood system of the infected horse, crosses the blood brain barrier and infects the brain. The virus interferes with normal central nervous system functioning and causes inflammation of the brain causing symptoms such as loss of coordination and appetite, fever, stiffness, confusion and muscle weakness.

Many times infected horses and other animals do not become ill and show no symptoms at all. About one-third of horses that become ill die.

Mike Louisell, public information officer for the Washington State Department of Agriculture in Olympia said, "It's nothing to panic about."

Adding furher Mike said, "Horse owners need to take precautions and vaccinate their horses."

The best way to protect a horse against West Nile infection is vaccination, which is easily available through veterinarians across US.

The New York City health department is urging people to use repellent as a protective measure while outdoor. Wear loose-fitting, light-colored, long-sleeve shirts and long pants if they have to spend time in an area where mosquitoes are biting.

West Nile virus belongs to the family of Flaviviridae, part of the Japanese encephalitisdefine (JE) antigenic complex of viruses and is mainly transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito.

West Nile virus though mostly infects birds but it can also infect humans and animals such as dogs, horses, dogs, cats, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrel and domestic rabbits.

Mosquitoes transmit the virus after becoming infected by feeding on the blood of birds carrying the virus. The people affected with the virus have either no symptoms or they have flu-like symptoms. In the most rare and extreme cases, West Nile virus can cause a condition called encephalitis which is irritation and swelling of the brain.