Equine west nile virus, please read

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TinselRider

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Hey all
I recieved an information leaflet from my vets today regarding west nile virus, They are holding a seminar to help raise awareness of the disease.

I have included the link to a website they have sent me as I feel everyone should have a read.
http://www.westnile.eu/en/disease/about-west-nile-virus.asp

Needless to say I will be getting my boys vaccinated in the future
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N.B By posting this I am in NO WAY trying to "scare monger" but simply raise awarness of this disease.
 
very interesting reading, thank you so much for the link, i had no idea it was endemic in Italy and that it is spread by birds (which migrate here from Italy, of course.) will get my girls vacc'd in spring, definitely. thankyou!
 
Shoot me down if you want, but....................... What they are actually doing is increasing their and the pharmaceutical companys profits. The disease does exist in Italy and no, my horses are not at the moment vac'd for the disease. They will be if and when the disease is found within 50 ks. There is no need to panic and spend money on something that doesnt exist where you live and have your horses immune system upset for nothing. Instead, worry about the real risk of infectious equine anaemia, strangles, EVA etc being brought into the country by lowend dealers cutting corners on the importing of supposed (and real) butcher destined horses from France and Spain. That is where the real risk exists, not some wayward duck off the marshes of Lombardia.
Smacks of panic profiteering to me. Reminds me of the so called 'Swine Flu' jabs
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PS, I live in Northern Italy. Why not ask DEFRA to tighten up its Tripartate rules and regs or change them completely in favour of the British horse population?
 
RIGHT. STOP PANICKING FOR A START.

Read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Nile_virus

I live in an extremely high risk area for WNV, people DIE from it here. My dogs and horses are vaccinated against this, along with rabies, oddly enough, human vaccinations for both are not routinely available.

It affects birds BUT, is mainly spread by MOSQUITOS, so, unless you are in an area where there a lots of mosquitos please don't panic. It is good to be aware though, loads of info about it, but have a good read before you rush out and get your horses vaccinated if it isn't necessary.
 
Thats a good article on West Nile and thank you for posting it.

Im learning about viral disease like this in collage,doing a presentaion on African horse sickness and its potential for spreading tomorrow
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, and one of the points our lecturer keeps mentioning is that the more people who can recognise the disease as a possibility the more quickly it can be contained if it makes it as far as britian and ireland.Well done to you vet for having a seminar on it!
Raising awareness on a disease that has the potential to move in this direction is a very good idea!

However i would not be extremely concerned about vaccination for west nile just yet.The probability of it getting as far as britain without any warning is unlikely.

Vaccination always risks associated with it and i would be reluctant to vaccinate,particularly live attenuated,for fear of side effects. If you are thinking of vaccination please get you vet to source one for you.Although vaccines can bought online these strains
1. might not be suitable for the strain that make it to britain and
2 have the potential to be faulty and introduce West nile to britain(it is suspected this occured and introduced a new strain the netherlands during the last bluetongue epidemic so i thought id better mention it)

Also the tripartite agreement,while has its flaws, has cause's in it that take into account the risks of disease and if a listed disease like WNV,AHS is introduced into Ireland, Britain or France then the other countries will be imformed and the agreement revised as suitable for the control of that disease.Those that are zoonotic are gauranteed to be taken more seriously
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Enfys is quite correct in saying that there is currently no need to panic. Tbh, I don't think the vaccine is even available in the UK at present.

Given the OPs vets are in Essex - a likely infection entry area -, I'm guessing the vets are trying to increase awareness of symptoms.

I was living in the States when West Nile arrived there. Initially, there wasn't a vaccine, and horses did die. The mosquito spread infection travelled across North America over several years, and was not stopped by frigid winters.

If West Nile reaches northern Europe, then it is time to start vaccinating here.
 
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