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62 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, September 18, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 2, 2004 Ashland horse had West Nile By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune Add an Ashland horse to the growing list of West Nile virus victims in Jackson County. Laboratory results released Wednesday confirmed that the horse was infected with the virus when it was put down on Aug. 20 — the same day that tests indicated the virus was present in local birds. The horse had not been vaccinated against the virus, said Tara Timpson, a veterinarian at Crater Animal Clinic in Central Point. Timpson, who treated the horse, declined to disclose information about the animal other than to say it was "middle aged," which would make it about 11 or 12 years old. West Nile-infected horses have now been confirmed in four Oregon counties, Malheur (southeastern Oregon), Linn (Willamette Valley), Grant (north central) and Jackson. No human cases have been confirmed in Oregon, but some public health officials think that could change before cold weather ends the mosquito season. Advertisement There’s a "50-50 chance" a human case could appear here before winter, said Gary Stevens, Jackson County’s director of environmental health. Stevens noted that West Nile- infected mosquitoes could just as easily bite a human as a horse. Horses are far more likely than humans to develop a fatal case of West Nile, however. Thirty to 40 percent of infected horses may die, but fewer than 1 percent of the humans who are infected come down with life-threatening illness. Far more cases are likely to surface next year, if Oregon follows the pattern that has emerged in other states. The greatest number of cases typically surfaces in the second year of the virus’ presence. Stevens said five people with symptoms that suggested they might be ill with West Nile have been tested for the virus, but their tests showed no sign of infection. Jackson County veterinarians have been busy vaccinating horses against the virus this summer, but the pace has picked up since dead birds signaled its arrival. "We’ve just been hammered," said Tom Timmons of Eagle Point’s Rogue Valley Equine Hospital. "This is bringing people out of the woodwork who have been waiting." Veterinarian Timpson said the rush to vaccinate horses now may not necessarily provide the animals with the protection they need. The horse vaccine is administered in two inoculations 21 days apart. Data from other states suggests that the second inoculation plays a critical role in helping a horse’s immune system produce enough antibodies to resist the virus. "It takes a month to get immunity," she said. "People who are vaccinating their horses right now, I don’t know how much good it’s going to do." Even the preferred two inoculations will not necessarily protect a horse from exposure to the virus, Timpson said. She noted that older horses are more susceptible to the disease than younger animals, and horses with health problems could be more vulnerable than vigorous animals. "There are no guarantees," she said. The horse vaccine provides animals with a year of immunity, but needs to be renewed annually. The two inoculations cost about $40, less than the cost of having a dead horse hauled away. Timmons said it’s hard to calculate Jackson County’s horse population, but it could easily exceed 6,000. "There are several barns with over 100 horses," he noted, "and for every mile of country road you go down there seem to be four or five horses." Symptoms of the virus West Nile virus is a disease of the central nervous system. Infected horses may display a variety of symptoms, such as lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, muscular weakness or stumbling. Horses that have such symptoms, however, may not necessarily have the virus. There are other diseases with similar symptoms, including two additional kinds of equine encephalitis. Horse owners should contact their veterinarian if their animals have symptoms. Horses are infected by mosquitoes that have previously fed on infected birds. Horses are considered "dead-end" hosts because they don’t develop enough of the virus to allow mosquitoes to pass significant quantities to other animals. Only birds are known to pass the virus to other animals through mosquitoes. Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities