As of Sept. 5, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Health Monitoring and Surveillance had confirmed 64 cases of WNV in 23 states this year.
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Animal health officials in Virginia have confirmed the commonwealth's first equine case of West Nile virus (WNV) for 2013. Further west, officials say a third Kentucky horse has tested positive for the virus.
According to a Sept. 12 statement from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), the affected Russell County horse had been vaccinated for WNV two weeks prior to becoming ill. The horse is receiving supportive therapy, the statement indicated. In 2012, Virginia reported only one confirmed equine WNV case.
Meanwhile in Kentucky, a 6-year-old Standardbred gelding from Todd County tested positive for WNV on Sept. 11, according to a statement from Kentucky Equine Programs Manager E.S. "Rusty" Ford.
Ford's statement indicated that the affected horse presented with a fever on Sept. 2; his condition subsequently worsened. On Sept. 7, the horse exhibited hind limb ataxia and inappetence, and on Sept. 8 he became recumbent. As of Sept. 11, the horse was described as "up and walking with some improvement noted."
"None of the (three) West Nile-affected horses (in Kentucky) were reported to have been properly immunized," Ford's statement read.
In 2012 Kentucky reported 13 cases of WNV in horses.
As of Sept. 5, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Health Monitoring and Surveillance had confirmed 64 cases of WNV in 23 states this year.
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