West Nile Strikes Again (3 Horses in Oregon Have Virus)

Burns Times-Herald ^ | 9/6/05 | LAUREN HOWRY

[Recovering_Democrat]

With a third horse having been diagnosed with West Nile virus last week, public health officials are encouraging people to vaccinate their horses.

Harney County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Wendell Gillespie emphasized staying ahead of the virus, which in turn can infect humans, birds and horses. Infected birds are bitten by mosquitoes, which spread it to humans and horses. Humans and horses cannot spread it to one another. "Mosquitoes are going to make a comeback," he said. Until the first freeze, they'll continue to reproduce and bite. He also warned people not to get complacent over the winter months. "It (West Nile) will be back next spring, and it'll be worse," he said.

[Recovering_Democrat]

The Democrat Party of Oregon jumped into action last week, releasing this statement regarding the three horses infected with the West Nile virus:

[cripplecreek]

I suspect that Ive been infected and am now immune. When the virus first appeared here in Michigan it seemed to take a heavy toll on the blue jays but the numbers appear to have more than rebounded.

[AngrySpud]

" ... encouraging people to vaccinate their horses."

For a hundred bucks you can effectively protect a horse. And yet, many folks don't bother. In our county six horses have been put down because of severe WNV illness. None of the owners bothered to vaccinate their horses. Stupid.

[Salvation]

Oregon Ping

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[ex-Texan]

Thanks for the *Ping* . . . Have you noticed the birds recently? For the past two months the only birds around where I live have been crows (carrion eaters). All the robins, sparrows and other birds have disappeared. What is up with that?