"Reducing or eliminating your
horses' exposure to mosquitoes
is crucial to protecting
them from West Nile Virus"
- Horses infected with West Nile Virus (WNV) are not contagious.
- Horses can't spread it to other horses or people.
- Mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds spread WNV.
- A mosquito cannot bite an infected horse and spread the virus to another horse or person.
- Horses are not known to spread West Nile Virus to people. Horses are considered to be "dead–end" hosts for WNV because it appears that they do not develop a sufficient viremia to transmit the virus from contact. Clinical signs are usually not apparent until 3–14 days post infection and viremia. Regardless, it is very important that veterinarians and other animal health workers take standard recommended precautions for all contagious equine viral encephalitic agents such as rabies and other viral encepaphalitis agents when dealing with horses suffering from undiagnosed neurological diseases.
- Treatment consists of supportive measures, and there is no specific cure.
- WNV is not analogous to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)) and Exotic Newcastle Disease (END). Both FMD and END are very contagious and spread with ease and rapidity.
- There will be no quarantines nor regulatory movement restrictions placed on WNV positive horses.
- Control of WNV in horses involves working with one's veterinary practitioner to establish both effective mosquito control and vaccination programs.
Return to West Nile Virus Home Page
Contact us for more information:
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Animal Health and Food Safety Services, Animal Health Branch
1220 N Street, Room A-107
Sacramento, California 95814
Telephone: (916) 654-1447
Fax: (916) 653-2215
or send an email to: ahbfeedback@cdfa.ca.gov