|
Front page article in our local
newspaper, The Daily News reads:
West Nile kills Mifflin Co. horse,
by Doug Roles, Daily News Staff Writer
The first horse to die in PA this
year of West Nile virus was in Mifflin County. Dan Dunmire, district manager of
the Mifflin Count Conservation District said the test results on the dead animal
came back Tuesday and were positive for West Nile.
Dunmire told The Daily News this
morning that the district doesn't know exactly when the horse died or in what
part of the county. PA Dept. of Ag. does not publicize that information but
contacts livestock owners with an infected animal to advise on mosquito
control.
Dr. Nan Hanshaw-Roberts with the
Dept. of Ag. recommends livestock owners do all they can to get rid of standing
water which gives mosquitoes a place to breed. She also recommends owners keep
animals inside if at all possible during peak biting times, early morning and
dusk.
She said horse owners should
discuss with a veterinarian inoculating horses.
"There have been good sales of the
vaccine," she said. "It seems to not have very many side effects."
Dunmire said the virus seems to
affect some animals more than others.
"Apparently a cow can be bitten by
an infected mosquito and it's no big deal. Horses are pretty
sensitive."
"There is a vaccine for West Nile
for horses," said Dunmire. "It's not 100 percent effective."
Dunmire said it's probably too late
for new inoculations for horses to do much good for the remainder of the summer
because the vaccine takes several months to take effect.
The disease is transmitted to
humans and animals only by a bite from an infected mosquito. No humans in PA
have contracted West Nile virus so far this year.
Dunmire said the Dept. of
Environmental Protection and the conservation district are continuing to use
insecticide in areas with a high concentration of mosquitoes.
Earlier this month a dead bird
found in Warriors Mark Township, Huntingdon County, tested positive for West
Nile virus.
State health officials announced
Wednesday that a mosquito pool in Bellefonte tested positive for West Nile
virus. It was the second pool in Centre County infected with the virus. Also in
Centre County, 10 crows have tested positive. Eight in State College, one in
Ferguson Township and on in Port Matilda borough.
Richard McGarvey, a spokesperson
with the PA Dept. of Health said the state Dept. of Ag. tracks cases of larger
animals killed by West Nile.
Certainly it's something they're
keeping a close eye on," he said, noting that the infected animals can't infect
humans but serve as an indicator of the prevalence of the disease.
"There is no vaccine for
humans."said McGarvey, "That could be years away."
Instead health officials recommend
people take some basic precautions.
"Get rid of the standing water in
your back yard," said McGarvey. "One inch of standing water in a flower pot
could breed 1,000 Mosquitoes."
McGarvey said most mosquitoes bite
during the morning and late day hours. He said insect repellents containing DEET
seem to work best.
"Make sure your screens are in good
repair." added McGarvey. This is a simple way to keep pests out of the house and
prevent getting bitten while sleeping.
End of story.
So that's the news from Huntingdon,
PA!
Kim
(Off to buy some netting to cover
our property. How many square feet for 8 acres? How do I figure in for
height?)
http://www.snakehill.com
Denny & Kim
Bookhamer
Snake Hill Stables, Inc.
R.D. # 2 Box 223
Huntingdon, PA
16652
Ph: 814-667-2379
fax: 814-667-3499
| 