West Nile Virus

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West Nile Virus Vaccine

Consult your veterinarian about the West Nile Virus 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.

For information about sleeping sickness, see our Eastern Equine Encephalitis page

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.

Eliminating Mosquitoes

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 over-water; 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.