http://www.oaoa.com/news/nw072003g.htm

West Nile virus vaccine available for horse owners

By Skye Earls
Odessa American

While West Texans don’t have to worry about the West Nile virus to the same degree as those in other areas of the state, experts say some concern and prevention is recommended.
Confirmed cases of the West Nile virus, which is carried by mosquitoes, have been reported in Midland County (three horses) and Andrews County (two horses). But that is the extent of the invasion of the disease in the Permian Basin so far.
For horse owners, there is a vaccine called Innovator available. Most large animal veterinarians have a supply of the vaccine.
According to veterinarians, it takes two doses three weeks apart to initially inoculate horses. But Dr. Will Evans at Gardendale Veterinary Clinic pointed out that the vaccine takes 10 weeks until it is effective.
Evans said many horses in this area have been vaccinated since last year’s outbreak.
“It’s awfully cheap insurance,” Evans said.
He said that the cost of hospitalization is high. Evans said that last year there were about a dozen reported cases during the 35 days following the first reported case in Ector County on Oct. 1. He said 80 percent of the horses survived.
“The first case that we had was pretty close to town and there wasn’t a pond (where mosquitoes could breed) there,” Evans said.
For those who had horses vaccinated last year, booster shots are needed.
But veterinarians differ on recommendations as to how often the booster shots are needed. Evans says he recommends booster shots every six months. But at Cobbs Veterinary Clinic, veterinary technician Lesley Wright said the clinic administers the booster annually unless the horses will be traveling out of the area, which could require another booster shot.
The vaccine costs around $20 per dose.
Jim Watkins, rodeo coach at Odessa College and director of the OC Rodeo and Agricultural Graham Center in Gardendale, said workers there are careful not to leave any standing water in the horse areas.
“We don’t create a habitat for mosquitoes,” Watkins said.
But he pointed out that the 24 horses stabled at the center currently probably won’t be vaccinated.
“Economically, you have to look at how feasible it is to do that,” Watkins said, adding that six brood mares and one other valuable horse slated to come to the center probably will be vaccinated.
He said that during the school year when the rodeo students return, more horses will be stabled at the center that are individually owned and valuable. But most of them already have been vaccinated, he added.
“I think for individual horse owners who have three to four horses, it’s definitely worthwhile,” Watkins said. “And if they’re valuable horses, certainly.”
He said horse owners who choose not to vaccinate their horses don’t think any less of their horses than those who do vaccinate.
“Where we are, it just isn’t that big a deal right now,” he said.
Watkins said West Nile virus vaccinations would be a higher priority for horse owners in East Texas, where there is constant moisture and humidity — and more of a mosquito problem.

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