Owners warned to vaccinate after West Nile spreads to horses

VALENCIA COUNTY, N.M. —West Nile virus has spread to horses in New Mexico.
The New Mexico Department of Health confirmed that a horse in Valencia County was the first horse in the state to contract the illness this year.
West Nile virus can be prevented in horses with a vaccine.
A veterinarian in Valencia County said he has noticed fewer horse owners keeping up with their horses’ vaccinations.
For horse owners like Kelsey Prangley, who has been around horses most of her life, it is a top priority to keep her horse healthy.
“We want them to be safe, especially this time of year when there’s mosquitoes. We want them have the best care and be safe, so definitely no hesitation for vaccines,” she said.
There were five cases of West Nile virus in horses reported in 2014, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.
Louise Nielsen said one of her friends owned a horse who came down with the virus last year and had to be put down.
“Honestly, it’s not something that you think about regularly. You think about other kinds of horse diseases, but West Nile wasn’t one until that happened,” she said.
According to vets, owners can protect horses by spraying them with insect repellent and keeping them inside a barn at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
Veterinarians say the best defense is making sure horses get the West Nile vaccine.

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