A horse in San Juan Bautista tested positive for West Nile Virus
yesterday, the second horse in San Benito County to test positive
for the virus in less than a week.
Paicines – A horse in San Juan Bautista tested positive for West Nile Virus yesterday, the second horse in San Benito County to test positive for the virus in less than a week.
“It certainly looks as though the bug is with us,” said Dr. Roger Bruce of Ausaymas Veterinary Service. Bruce is caring for Tyler, the first horse to be diagnosed with West Nile last Friday in Paicines.
County health officials and the second horse’s vet, Dr. Richard McCormick, are quick to point out that the second horse may not have contracted the virus in San Benito County.
“He just moved here from the Central Valley,” said Dr. McCormick. “They have a lot more problems out there, and definitely more mosquitos. It’s fortunate that the horse was vaccinated for West Nile shortly after it’s arrival in the county, or it could be in much worse shape.”
Both horses seem to be on the mend, good news considering that West Nile is fatal for about 44 percent of infected horses. Tyler, an older horse, is particularly susceptible to the disease, but appears to be recovering.
While the two horses come from opposite ends of the county, their symptoms, which appeared last Monday, are similar. Both were ataxic, or wobbly and unsure on their feet, had a fever, and displayed neurological problems. Both horses had blood drawn and the results came back Friday, although results for the second horse, who Dr. McCormick refused to name to protect patient confidentiality, were given to San Benito County Health and Human Services only yesterday.
“Horses and birds are letting us know where to focus our efforts before a human gets sick,” said Health Officer Dr. Elizabeth Falade. “Sometimes it takes a wake-up call like this to get the community to act.”
After it was determined that West Nile was to blame for the horses’ condition, representatives from the San Benito County Agriculture Department combed the owners’ property, as well as that of their neighbors, for conditions that might be too friendly to mosquitos, who carry the disease.
Common habitats are stagnant ponds or, as was the case in Paicines, a water trough. Sites considered a risk for mosquito breeding are treated with pellets that kill the insects before they fully mature.
“I didn’t think I’d find the first case of West Nile in Paicines,” said Dr. Bruce. “It’s a lot dryer up there, and there just aren’t as many mosquitos, but I think the county has been very responsive to the problem, and they’re taking it seriously.”
Dr. Bruce went on to suggest alternate methods of mosquito extermination, citing “mosquito fish” programs that have been very successful in Monterey County. The county raises and distributes fish with a taste for mosquitos, and wipe out the insect population before they have time to infect birds, horses or people with West Nile.
“We’re aware of this program, and unfortunately we don’t have the resources to take something like that on right now,” said Dr. Falade. “However, the good news is that we’ve done studies indicating that such fish live naturally in many waterways within the county. And any private citizen who wants the fish on his property can get them, free of charge, from Monterey or Salinas.”
“It’s not a crisis yet,” said Dr. Bruce. “But this proves that West Nile Virus is alive and well in our county. I just urge people to vaccinate their horses. West Nile is like a ghost: You can’t see it, but you know when it’s there, hopefully before it’s too late for your horse.”
