West Nile Virus Found In Florida Horse

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Health officials in Florida have confirmed the first case of West Nile virus in a horse in the state, the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper reported on July 21. It also is the first case of the disease that has been reported in a horse in this country this year.

The horse was one of five in Jefferson County, in Northern Florida, that was believed to have been stricken by Eastern equine encephalitis in early June. Preliminary tests in Florida on three of the horses indicated the possible presence of West Nile virus, and blood samples were sent to the National Veterinary Lab in Ames, Iowa, for specific testing for the virus.

The results came back positive on July 20 for one horse, but work has not been completed on samples from the other two animals. The horse that tested positive has died, but the other two are still alive, according to the newspaper.

William Jeter, a Department of Agriculture veterinary manager in Florida, told the Democrat that preliminary tests also found West Nile in horse in Nassau County near Jacksonville. He expects the disease may be found in other counties. Since June, approximately 50 horses in nearly a dozen rural North Florida counties have been diagnosed with Eastern equine encephalitis.

The first infected crow was found in Florida in Jefferson County on July 6.

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