A southern Alberta horse has tested positive for West Nile virus. It’s the first positive case of West Nile virus in a horse on the Prairies this year.
The virus was discovered Aug. 9 in a horse from Picture Butte.
This is the second horse in Canada to test positive. The other horse was in Ontario.
Last year, 445 horses tested positive for West Nile virus.
The virus cannot pass from horse to horse, nor from horse to other animals or humans. The only known way of transmission is through mosquitoes.
Minimize the risk
The risk of West Nile virus infection in horses can be minimized by reducing exposure to mosquito bites through insect repellents, screened housing, smudges and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed.
Vaccines against West Nile virus are also available from veterinariansin Western Canada.
