West Nile Time Again

West Nile Time Again. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. Each year at about this time we begin to hear warnings again of the threat of West Nile disease due to population increases in mosquitoes. These insecto-vampires are known to spread a number of diseases with their bite including West Nile disease after they have fed on infected birds. The biggest threat from the virus is to horses and the West Nile virus is fatal in about one-third of all horses that show clinical signs, although most horses do not become ill and show no symptoms at all. According to Mike Louisell with the Washington State Department of Agriculture it is important to vaccinate. LOUISELL: It is good to consider vaccinating your horse and getting proper booster shots but that's better to do in the spring time. If you don't have those shots now maybe the best recommendation is to ensure that your area where you're having your horses is as low as mosquito population as possible and taking measures to prevent your horses from being out during dusk or dawn times when mosquitoes are more active. Aerial spraying for adult mosquitoes is being conducted in many communities across the northwest. In eastern Washington this week the Benton County Mosquito Control District said, it received confirmation that mosquitoes near Byron Ponds in Yakima County tested positive for West Nile virus. To prevent contracting the virus, which appears as flulike symptoms, the district suggests people wear insect repellent when outdoors. There is no cure for West Nile at this point but Dr. Wendy Vaala an equine technical services specialist for Intervet Inc. says it's about protection. VAALA: The focus of a vaccine is to prevent the disease. Once they've had the disease or are dealing with the disease a vaccination will not make a difference. And just looking at the stats up in the northwest last year Idaho had one of the worst years, I think the numbers were like over 330 horses in Idaho were confirmed with West Nile and those were only the ones that were reported. While horses are the primary concern humans can also contract the virus so it is important to take precautions when you are going to be out in mosquito prone areas. It is the female mosquito that attacks to feed on blood before she can produce eggs. A quick survey of your property can quickly show you mosquito breeding grounds and that includes any standing bodies of water including old tires that may have trapped water. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.