WNV cases in E.TX horses more than last year's total
Veterinarian urges vaccination program

From Staff Reports

July 31, 2003 -- "Already, we've got more cases of West Nile Virus in horses than we had last year," said Dr. Bill Howard of Longview. "And it's never 'too late' to vaccinate."

On July 25, the Texas Department of Health - Tyler division, reported nine cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) in hores within the East Texas region, with the latest on record being June 15. The cases were reported from the counties of Van Zandt, Angelina, Rusk, Greg, Shelby, Wood, and Nacogdoches.

Howard, who was in Mount Pleasant on July 24 for an unrelated news event, explained the first time the WNV vaccination is given, a booster shot is required six weeks later, and it can be about a month after that before the vaccine is effective. "But we are in the mosquito capital of the world," he said. "They're here all the time, especially from March through October."

The WNV vaccine should become part of the horse owner's vaccination regimen, he offered, just as they vaccinate against other encephalitites.

"I just don't understand why some horse owners don't vaccinate. It's not that expensive," the veterinarian added.

In the same report issued July 25, TDH, Tyler, records seven birds confirmed with the virus - five blue jays and two crows. The report shows the diagnosis was made from June 23 through July 8.

"West Nile is here, it's been here, and it's going to stay here," Howard added.