West Nile Virus Information | Fred Pearce Memorial Speakers

Protecting Against West Nile Virus: Tips for Horse Owners

The West Nile virus is carried by mosquitoes and can cause inflammation of the brain, spinal cord and surrounding tissue in birds, humans and horses. People and animals get the virus from the bite of a mosquito that has contracted the virus from feeding on wild birds. Crows, magpies, ravens and blue jays are most susceptible species. Dead birds are typically found before the disease is seen in people or animals.

The best way to prevent infection from this or any other mosquito-borne illness is to avoid exposure to mosquitoes. The following tips from the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) can help owners protect their horses:

• Eliminate standing water on the property to prevent mosquito breeding
• House horses inside at dawn, dusk and night, which are peak mosquito times
• Avoid leaving lights on inside horse stables in the evening or overnight
• Place incandescent bulbs around the perimeter of stables
• Use fans to create air movement over stabled horses
• Remove all birds, including chickens, that are in or close to stables
• Use mosquito repellent on horses
• Ensure that stables have adequate screening in good repair.

For more information about the West Nile virus or the vaccine, contact your local veterinarian or visit the Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development website or the animal health care section of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association website.