----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 2:57
PM
Subject: Re: [RC] WNV patterns
Well, Truman, I gotta tell ya, in my simple world, I do
believe it just depends on where the heck you live. I recently
did the GERA ride, which is 90 minutes drive north of Atlanta, and they
are experiencing quite a drought up there. The river crossing is
the lowest I've ever seen it in the 4 years I've been going to that
ride. Than entire week-end (4 days, actually) I never saw one
squitoe and very few deer flies. I think it's because the campsite is
where the Army used to bury nuclear waste, but we won't go there.
This is quite amazing to me, because down here, 9 hours drive south,
we've had 30 inches of rain from June till right now. If you want to dig
a well for water you don't have to go very deep, like 3 feet or so, and
you'll hit pay-dirt. Our 3 year drought is officially over. Throw
in a tropical storm or hurricane, and Daytona Beach will literally float
away into the Atlantic.
Anyway, I think this has a lot to do why my county is so awful with the
West Nile thing. We got squitoes, no doubt about it. I think
Cindy is right, her drought has quite a bit to do with why they
aren't having any West Nile cases in her area. I wish this was
true where I live.
While we're on the subject, I do think the one person who posted on
Ridecamp recommending not to use any vaccinations from Ft. Dodge, which West
Nile is one, is giving out very poor advice to fellow horse owners. I
can almost see where she's coming from, with that one very
bad experience she did have with another vaccine made by Fort Dodge, but
that doesn't mean all vaccines produced by this company are awful.
And, when it comes to West Nile, I haven't heard anything bad about the
vaccine at all, except that, maybe, some horses who were vaccinated,
still got West Nile. But, from what my vet is telling me down here on
the front lines of the war, no horse that was vaccinated has died.
My neighbor who had the horse who died from West Nile has, finally,
stopped crying, but, you will never ever meet anyone who is so emphatic on
getting that vaccine for your horse. She practically begs the folks in
her boarding barn to do so, and all of them have. Believe me, if I hear
of a horse who was vaccinated dying from West Nile I will let ya'll
know. So far, that hasn't happened in the county with the most
cases here in Florida. It's your decision, but I think doing it at least
once is not a bad idea.
cya,
Howard (I just bought a new horse and I'm going to name him "American
Spirit" in honor of those serving in and near Afghanistan....this guy is
friggen incredible, just like the folks who are over there watching our
back. Watch out Debbi Foti, I'm going to run with you one of these
days!)
----- Original Message -----
From:
Truman Prevatt
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 1:19
PM
To: C. Eyler
Cc: Ridecamp
Subject: Re: [RC] WNV patterns
Contrary to all the WN being in Howard's back yard this is
what we are
seeing in FL. Much worse last year. Since this is a fairly
mild conditon
anyway it seems that Maryanne is right on track. The are
now saying in
humans may young people get it and don't even know it.
It's the old
geezers that seem to be at risk. Hopefully we vaccinated
for the last
time for this.
Truman
C. Eyler
wrote:
>We've had no incidents so far this year here in Maryland
of human or equine
>WNV (according to http://westnilevirus.nbii.gov/
as of 8/23). Wondering
>why.
>
>Is our drought
keeping the mosquitoes away? Were we exposed last year and
>now
have some immunity? With the horses, vaccination could be a factor,
but
>that can't explain the lack of human illness It seems
as though the virus
>has moved on to not-previously-exposed pastures,
with not much illness from
>here on northward. Sort of sounds
like what Maryanne (in Egypt) described.
>Yes, I vaccinated this
spring (in March and April), but perhaps we'll only
>need boosters for
another year or so for healthy adult horses.
>
>Or, we could get
hit hard if we ever see rain
again.
>
>Cindy
>
>
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