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May 22, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"West Nile Virus Detected in Westlake Horse"

Associated Press (www.ap.org) (05/21/02)

Calcasieu Parish, La., Mosquito Control director Lucas Terracina reports that a case of West Nile encephalitis has been diagnosed in a horse located in Westlake and encourages people to take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes.  Noting that while there is no human vaccine against the disease, there is one for horses, which Terracina vehemently urged parish horse breeders to use to vaccinate their stock against West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis.  Two horses in Cameron Parish were identified earlier this year with the virus, and last summer 62 people were hospitalized after contracting the St. Louis virus strain, which killed four patients.  Terracina noted that the encephalitis viruses normally do not appear until much later in the summer season when mosquitoes peak, but the West Nile virus appears to be altering its usual pattern and could be a long-term problem this year.

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