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West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Contact:

Information about WNV Vaccine VACCINE HOTLINE: 850-921-0384 at Florida Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Industry.

Click here for more information about the vaccine
Jefferson County is the "epi-center" or "ground zero" for  WNV. Check the extent of WNV and EEE at maps from various agencies:
WNV Summary Cornell University Environmental Risk Analysis Program has an excellent WNV summary:  What's Going On with WNV?  Florida is included in a state-by-state status report.
Aerial Application of Dibrom A second aerial application of naled (Dibrom) is scheduled to begin early Monday morning, Labor Day, September 3, 2001.  For details, contact the Environmental Health section of Jefferson County Health Dept  342-0170  (REVISED, Thursday Aug 30, 11:00am)
Georgia Horse Dies Tests confirmed August 15 that a 30-year-old mare that died in Thomas County earlier this month was infected with West Nile Virus
WNV Vaccine Released USDA APHIS announced conditional release of a West Nile Vaccine for horses.  Read the Press Release.  Watch here for details of distribution through local veterinarians.  Jump to Q&A about the Vaccine.
Horse Sleeping Sickness
Eastern Equine Encephalitis - Since mid-June, 2001, over 20 equine cases of EEE have been confirmed in the Florida panhandle resulting in a medical alert in  Holmes, Washington and Jackson Counties.  
  Crow Tested Positive for WNV TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Department of Health confirmed West Nile virus (WNV) in one crow from Jefferson Countyon July 6. This is the first time WNV, a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, has been identified in the state. Click for full Press Release - .pdf file

Sources of information about West Nile Virus ( WNV ) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)

Consult your Veterinarian about the vaccine.  Be aware that horses already showing titer from exposure may not benefit from vaccination.  The vaccine has not been widely used before, so little is known of its effectiveness in protecting  horses from WNV.   

I circulated a poster above stating that horse blood samples would be drawn prior to vaccination. Samples are not required.  I apologize for any misunderstanding that may have caused.

Here are Questions and Answers concerning the vaccine from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

When will the vaccine be available, and where?  It is not yet available, but, as available, horse owners may order the vaccine through their private veterinary practitioner. Priority orders will be directed to counties with currently confirmed positive West Nile cases: Jefferson, Madison, Leon, Taylor and Duval.

Who do I get the vaccine from?  The vaccine can be obtained by ordering it through your local veterinary practitioner.

When can I get the vaccine?  You can get the vaccine as soon as it is available from the manufacturer. We have no time frame for the actual delivery. It could be as early as the week of August 6th. It could be in two weeks. The manufacturer is in control of this issue.

Can I order the vaccine myself?  No. At this time the approval for distribution of this trial vaccine is only given to licensed accredited veterinary practitioners, to be determined by the State Veterinarian and the location of the veterinary practice.

Can I give my horse the vaccine myself if my veterinarian orders it for me?  No. The product can only be administered by a licensed accredited veterinary practitioner. Any other method of vaccination will put licensure and accreditation of the veterinarian as risk for loss of both and subject the veterinarian to up to a $10,000 fine.

Where do I call to get information about the vaccine?  850 - 921-0384

Is the vaccine safe for my horses?  The manufacturers reports have indicated equine reaction appears to be no different than that of the EEE vaccine.

How many doses do I need for my horses?  Your veterinarian will request/be allocated enough doses for each horse in his practice, as indicated to him by his client’s herd volume, to provide the manufacturer’s recommended immunological support.

Am I required to vaccinate my horses?  No. However, Commissioner of Agriculture, Charles H. Bronson and the State Veterinarian, Dr. Lee Coffman emphasize that the WNV vaccine does not supercede vaccinations for eastern and western equine encephalitis (EEE and WEE), but that horse owners who decide to use the WNV vaccine will be doing so in addition to other equine vaccinations. Properly scheduled EEE/WEE vaccinations, while great protection against EEE/WEE, offers no cross-protection against West Nile virus. The Commissioner and State Veterinarian encourage everyone to continue with common-sense precautions such as spraying for mosquitoes and stalling your horses -- under fans, if practical -- during dusk to dawn hours, which are the prime mosquito feeding times.

Tracking Down your Mosquito Problems

Mosquitoes are opportunistic, and will find and breed in a wide variety of places around the home. Any water-holding location can become a breeding site for mosquitoes. A half-cup of water can breed enough mosquitoes to cause a problem. You can get rid of your mosquito problems simply and without using pesticides by eliminating breeding locations around the home and yard. Common breeding areas around the home include:

LOCATION SOLUTION
Potted plants with pans Don't overwater, remove pan if possible
Drainage ditches Remove vegetation and obstructions to water flow
Low spots that hold water Fill and regrade
Plugged roof gutters Keep gutters clean
Pet dishes Change water frequently
Trash piles Remove or cover
Old tires Remove or cover
Water holding containers Remove or cover
Poorly maintained pools Follow recommended maintenance
Bromeliads Flush to remove larvae
Tree holes Fill with sand or concrete
Debris on roofs Remove debris
Ponds Keep clean, stock with minnows
Boats Cover or turn upside down
Bird baths Flush at least once per week.

 
Click for the FMEL Newsletter of teh Florida Mosquito Control Association, BuzzWords
Over 180 citizens met for a discussion of EEE and WNV.  Sponsored by the Jefferson County Health Department, the County Extension Service and the Office of Emergency Management. For information about the risk of these two diseases, their hazard to livestock, especially horses and birds, and prevention, contact the Health Department or the Extension office.


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