By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
Horse owners across New York are being urged to vaccinate their horses against two viruses that have been identified in the state.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis, or EEE, and West Nile Virus, or WNV, are both caused by a virus that is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, which contracted the virus from a bird. Mosquitos are active in this region through late November.
There have been cases of EEE in 10 counties in New York so far this year — in Ulster, Washington, Orange, Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Madison, Oneida, Cayuga and Wayne counties. One case of West Nile Virus was confirmed in a horse in Oswego County.
Both EEE and West Nile Virus have no cure and can be fatal in unvaccinated horses.
The state’s Department of Agriculture has been working with veterinarians across the state notifying them of the presence of both illnesses in horses.
“A simple vaccination can go a long way toward protecting horses against mosquito-borne diseases,” Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball said. “If you’re a horse owner and your horse is in need of a vaccination, I encourage you to make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible.”
Susan Kayne, founder and CEO of Unbridled Sanctuary in Albany County, said the more than 50 horses under her care are being vaccinated against both viruses and she urged other horse owners to do the same.
“As the head of Unbridled Sanctuary, I want to emphasize the critical importance of timely vaccination in safeguarding our horses against emerging threats,” Kayne said. “Following the urgent advice of our dedicated veterinary team, we swiftly administered emergency Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Western Equine Encephalitis and tetanus booster vaccinations across our entire herd.”
“The reality is that unvaccinated horses are at significant risk, and it’s vital that all horse guardians consult with their veterinarians immediately to determine if their animals need booster shots,” Kayne added. “In this situation, proactive care is our strongest defense.”
The Agriculture Department also encourages other preventative measures:
- Eliminate all standing water where mosquitoes can breed;
- Use insect repellents and follow the directions on the label; and,
- Remove animals from mosquito-infested areas during peak biting times, usually dawn and dusk.
Symptoms of EEE in horses and other equines include staggering, circling, depression, loss of appetite, and can include fever and blindness.
The symptoms of West Nile Virus include lethargy, weakness in the hind quarters, stumbling, lack of awareness, head tilt and head twitching, convulsions, circling, partial paralysis and coma.
Horse owners who see these symptoms in their animals should contact the Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Division of Animal Industry at 518-457-3502 and their local health department. Animals suffering from neurologic problems must be handled with extreme caution as they may become unpredictable, according to the department.
Preventing mosquito bites is the most important way to minimize the threat of these and other mosquito-borne diseases, according to the state.
No confirmed cases of either disease have been detected in humans in New York this year.
The vaccinations are expensive, and Unbridled Sanctuary has launched a fundraising campaign to assist them in covering the costs related to vaccinating its entire herd of equines. Anyone wishing to donate can do so by visiting www.giving.unbridledsanctuary.org/page/ProtectEquineNowFromEEE.
