|
|||
Southwest-area equine first in county, third on North Coast to contract mosquito-borne virus Officials on Thursday confirmed that the 17-year-old quarter horse was infected with West Nile, which is often fatal to unvaccinated horses. On Monday the severely ill horse was examined by a veterinarian who suspected West Nile and sent a blood sample to the state Department of Food and Agriculture. Thursday, agriculture officials reported the horse tested positive for the virus, which arrived in Sonoma County this summer. The horse was euthanized Wednesday because it was so sick from the disease, which causes inflammation of the brain. Symptoms are partial paralysis, staggering, neurological disorders and grinding of teeth. The veterinarian determined there was little chance the horse would recover and ended the animal's suffering. ``Horses are very susceptible to this virus and it hits them really, really hard,'' said Chris Canterbury, public relations officer for the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District. The Santa Rosa horse had not been vaccinated, said Leigh Hall, deputy public health officer for Sonoma County. Last week, two horses, one in Lake County and the other in Mendocino County, were diagnosed with West Nile, the first cases in the North Coast horse population. Those horses are expected to recover. |
For more than two years, agricultural officials, veterinarians and horse industry leaders have warned Californians to vaccinate their horses for West Nile. It's estimated that more than 90 percent of Sonoma County's 14,500 horses have been vaccinated.
You can reach Staff Writer Tim Tesconi at 521-5289 or ttesconi@pressdemocrat.com. |
||
