From the Chico Enterprise-Record
June 4, 2018
Butte County Public Health is urging all horse owners to get their trusty steeds vaccinated for West Nile virus, the mosquito-borne illness transmitted to animals and people through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Horses are at high risk for the virus because they spend most of their time outdoors, including dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes capable of transmitting the disease are most active. West Nile virus-carrying mosquitoes breed in standing water, including ponds, water troughs and irrigation run-off, increasing the risk for horses.
While the last reported West Nile virus horse death in Butte County occurred in 2012, 21 horses statewide including some in Sacramento, Tehama and Glenn counties were confirmed positive for WNV in 2017.“We issue this reminder to get horses vaccinated every year in May or early June before the active WNV season really begins,” said Lisa Almaguer, Health Department communications manager. “It’s a precautionary measure because one-third of the horses affected with WNV die or have to be euthanized.”