NEWS
West Nile virus affecting hundreds of Ohio horses
Posted: Thursday, October 03, 2002
West Nile virus has been confirmed in 352 horses in 68 counties in Ohio, including 77 horses located in Holmes County, and 52 in Wayne County, both located in northeast section of the state and representing the two highest county totals, according to data from the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
"This new data confirms what we already know: that West Nile virus is here and our horses are vulnerable," said Fred Dailey, director of the department of agriculture.
Totals from the other northeast Ohio counties include Geauga, 11 horses; Stark, seven horses; Cuyahoga, seven horses; Lorain, five horses; Medina, four horses; Summit, three horses; and Portage with two horses.
Approximately 35% of infected horses either died or were euthanized, and the rest recovered, officials told the Akron Beacon Journal. Seven of the horses infected with the mosquito-borne virus received two doses of a vaccine to ward off the virus, and the other horses that were infected had not been vaccinated or received only one dose.
Ohio health officials have also reported 269 cases of West Nile virus in humans, 12 of which resulted in death.
