It was a slow start in Texas in 2017 for positive cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEE) with one confirmed case of WNV (brain sample by rt-PCR), 15 confirmed cases of WNV by IgM ELISA and one confirmed case of EEE by IgM ELISA. It is important to remember that these diseases have a seasonality. Our highest number of positive cases are usually observed in September and October (see figure 1.).
There is still time to have your horse vaccinated for these preventable diseases. Mosquito control around your barn, stable and home is also important in reducing the risk of WNV exposure.