8-5 IAN W. Nile

 The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) reports two horses, one near Parma, Idaho, and one near Meridian, Idaho, tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV).  The discovery of a WNV-positive-horses means WNV-carrying mosquitoes were in the area. This serves as a reminder to the public that they are also at risk, and to protect themselves and their animals from mosquitoes and the diseases they can carry.  Dr. Scott Leibsle, with the Idaho Department of Veterinary Medicine: “This past week, two different tests were sent into the animal health lab here at the Department of Agriculture and we recorded the first two W. Nile positives of the year in horses in Idaho. In comparison, in 2012, we did not record a positive force in Idaho until late August. Cumulatively for the year in 2012, we had nine positive horses for West Nile,  thus far this year we have had two. Neither horse had been vaccinated. As is typically the case, most horses that we see nowadays that have contracted West Nile have not been vaccinated.”  Dr. Leibsle says that the vaccine is very effective and can be purchased for about $30. He says that in any case, even if a horse should contract West Nile, the symptoms will be far less severe if the horse has been vaccinated