Jump in Ontario West Nile horse cases possible – officials
A pregnant increase inwards the number of West Nile Virus (WNV) cases inwards horses is possible inwards Ontario, Canada, this year, officials convey warned.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food in addition to Rural Affairs issued an advisory alarm of the threat the virus posed.
West Nile Virus is endemic inwards Ontario in addition to cases conduct house inwards the Equus caballus population at varying levels each year.
“There is the potential for a pregnant increase inwards the number of equine WNV cases inwards Ontario inwards 2012,” the ministry building said.
“Public Health Ontario has reported the highest number of WNV-positive musquito pools since 2002, which is the get-go twelvemonth that human in addition to equine cases were identified inwards Ontario.”
As of August 22, at that spot convey been 49 confirmed or in all probability cases of human WNV inwards the say in addition to therefore far this year.
“At this time, at that spot are no reports of equine cases. However, it seems inevitable that at that spot volition endure some.”
The ministry building asked that vets consider WNV inwards horses with neurological signs, in addition to aid inwards identifying positive cases through appropriate testing.
It noted that effective Equus caballus vaccines for WNV were available in addition to it urged veterinarians to ensure that vaccinations were up-to-date inwards their clients’ animals.
WNV is an straightaway notifiable affliction nether the federal Health of Animals Act.
Signs of the infection, such every bit lethargy, ataxia, facial tremors in addition to limb paralysis, tin flame mimic a multifariousness of brain-swelling diseases including rabies, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE), botulism, hepatic encephalopathy, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), tetanus, equine herpes virus 1 (EHV-1), atomic number 82 poisoning, in addition to wobbler syndrome.
Mortality rates alongside horses showing clinical signs of WNV are well-nigh 35 per cent.
Most equine cases of WNV conduct house betwixt August in addition to September, although cases tin flame conduct house into Oct if environmental weather permit the survival of the musquito vector species.
Ontario’s local world wellness units are currently conducting musquito surveillance.
Birds are the natural host for the virus, which is transmitted to horses in addition to humans past times mosquitoes which convey bitten an infected bird. As of August 22, 2012, at that spot convey been 312 WNV-positive musquito pools identified inwards 25 wellness units across the province. This number is almost every bit high every bit those identified inwards 2002, when at that spot were 101 confirmed cases of equine WNV inwards Ontario.
WNV infections convey been reported inwards a broad attain of brute in addition to plane species, including horses, dogs, cats, deer, crows, chickens, geese, jays, raptors in addition to owls. Horses in addition to birds of the corvid family, including ravens, magpies, jays in addition to crows, are especially susceptible to WNV.
Positive equine cases of WNV inwards Ontario, when identified, volition endure followed upwardly past times the local world wellness unit of measurement to make upwardly one's heed whether the exposure of the Equus caballus was local or travel-related, in addition to the vaccination status of the horse.
The world wellness unit of measurement volition likewise ensure that human exposure to mosquitoes inwards the expanse which may potentially endure carrying WNV is minimized. Depending on the fourth dimension of year, the owners of properties on which a positive equine WNV instance is diagnosed may endure asked to allow world wellness musquito traps to endure placed closed to their holding for surveillance purposes – at that spot is no toll to the holding possessor for this.
There is no vaccine for humans in addition to no treatment, other than supportive, i time a mortal is infected.
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