This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Three cases of West Nile Virus in Utah horses have been confirmed in Box Elder, Uintah and Iron counties, according to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF).
While the virus is not transmissible from horses to humans, the UDAF strongly advises horse owners throughout the state to protect their animals by vaccinating them for the virus, which causes encephalitis and affects the central nervous system.
Horse owners also can protect their animals by applying approved repellents to the animals and by controlling mosquitoes and mosquito breeding areas.
Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus have been discovered in stagnant bodies of water in various Utah counties. One human case of West Nile Virus has been reported in Utah in 2014.
The most common sign of West Nile virus in horses is weakness, usually in the hindquarters. Signs include a widened stance, stumbling, leaning to one side and toe dragging. In extreme cases, paralysis may follow. Fever is sometimes evident.
The UDAF said 80 percent of West Nile Virus cases in horses occurs in August and September.
Horse owners who suspect West Nile viral infection of their animals should contact their veterinarian immediately, as approximately 1/3 of horses that show signs of the illness will die.
For more information about the West Nile Virus, visit UDAF's Web page: http://www.ag.utah.gov/ or the Utah Department of Health's Web page: http://www.health.utah.gov/.