West Nile virus threat to horses

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is reminding horse owners across the state to make sure their animals are properly vaccinated.

Last year, 456 horses in California were known to have contracted West Nile virus, with 200 deaths. In the great majority of those cases, the horses were either not vaccinated or vaccinated improperly.

"Outbreaks of West Nile virus are expected to continue this year," said California state veterinarian Dr. Richard Breitmeyer. "Horse owners should contact their veterinarians as soon as possible to ensure current vaccination status, so that horses will have maximum protection against the disease."

Signs of West Nile virus include stumbling, staggering, wobbling, weakness, muscle twitching and inability to stand. Horses contract the disease from carrier mosquitoes and aren't contagious to other horses or people. Not every horse exposed to the virus will die.

For more information, go onlinw to the CDFA website at www.cdfa.ca.gov or call the Equine West Nile Virus Information Line at (800) 268-7378.

This story provided by StatePoint Media.