HORSE OWNERS REIN IN WEST NILE VIRUS.Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer GLENDALE - Horse owners in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County have taken fears of equine West Nile virus West Nile virus, microorganism and the infection resulting from it, which typically produces no symptoms or a flulike condition. The virus is a flavivirus and is related to a number of viruses that cause encephalitis. to heart and vaccinated their animals against the disease, resulting in just four horses becoming ill, officials said Monday. Statewide, 158 cases of equine West Nile virus have been reported with 82 horses dying, two in Los Angeles County, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the California Department of Food and Agriculture California Department of Food and Agriculture, which was established in 1919 by the California Legislature,[1] works in partnership with the agricultural industry and other governmental agencies to regulate various aspects dealing with food and agriculture related . Riverside County has the highest incidence of equine West Nile virus, with 59 cases and 31 deaths. ``Things are looking good in Los Angeles County but the peak season is just beginning for West Nile West Nile may refer to:
Health officials have predicted that the number of human cases also will increase as the temperatures go up, providing ideal breeding conditions for the mosquitoes that carry the disease. West Nile virus can be transmitted by mosquitoes from infected birds - primarily crows - to humans and horses, but cannot be spread to other people or horses. More than 340 people in California have tested positive for the disease this year, and there have been 10 fatalities - the most of any state this year. Four of the victims who died have been in Los Angeles County, including 91-year-old Hester Martin of Northridge. There is no vaccination or cure for human West Nile virus, which can develop into brain infections such as encephalitis encephalitis (ĕnsĕf'əlī`təs), general term used to describe a diffuse inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, usually of viral origin, often transmitted by mosquitoes, in contrast to a bacterial infection of the meninges and meningitis. However, there is an equine vaccination that involves two injections - at about $25 each - three to six weeks apart, followed by booster shots every six months. And most horse owners and stable operators at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center and in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. seem to have heeded the recommendation of veterinarians Veterinarians and veterinary surgeons (vets) are medical professionals who operate exclusively on animals. Well-known and notable veterinarians include:
``An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure since it's been proven that infected horses not vaccinated against West Nile virus do not survive,'' said Susan Eskander, who owns Trails End Ranch in Chatsworth, where all 35 horses have been vaccinated. Most horses infected with West Nile virus will not develop any symptoms, but 30 percent of those that do become ill will die or must be destroyed, experts said. Arcadia-based veterinarian veterinarian /vet·er·i·nar·i·an/ (vet?er-i-nar´e-an) a person trained and authorized to practice veterinary medicine and surgery; a doctor of veterinary medicine. vet·er·i·nar·i·an n. Michael Peralez, who along with his two partners has administered about 4,000 West Nile virus vaccinations over the past three years, said his equestrian clients have had all their horses vaccinated. ``I don't think we're going to see as much West Nile in horses in Los Angeles County'' as in other counties, Peralez said. Elaine Brock, who owns a stable in Atwater Village, has required that all horses that board in her stable be vaccinated. ``We didn't even have to require it because everybody did it out of concern for the life of their horse,'' Brock said. Horse owners at Sleepy Hollow Sleepy Hollow out-of-the-way, old-world village on Hudson. [Am. Lit.: “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” in Benét, 575] See : Isolation Stables in Chatsworth began vaccinating their horses after hearing of the human outbreak when people began to be infected on the East Coast, trainer Anee Churchill said. ``Because of the danger, it's not worth taking the chance,'' said Churchill, who works for Futurity Farms, where all 40 horses have been vaccinated. Those who haven't vaccinated their horses should be very careful in the next few months, said Steve Lyle, spokesman for the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Precautions include controlling mosquitoes in yards and removing standing water. ``We're expecting the possibility that we will see a greater number of cases and unfortunately a greater number of horse deaths,'' he said. ``The peak may be in front of us.'' Signs of equine West Nile virus infection include lack of coordination, circling, weakness or partial paralysis of limbs, muscle twitching (especially around nose and lips), an inability to rise and grinding of teeth grinding of teeth see bruxism. . ``I was once told by a veterinarian that once you see it, it's such a distinctive and terrible disease, you'll never forget it,'' Eskander said. ``Her words were very chilling. It struck me as a strong statement on how serious the disease is and how painful it must be for an animal to suffer through.'' Naush Boghossian, (818) 546-3306 naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Susan Eskander of Trails End Ranch vaccinates a horse against West Nile Virus on Monday. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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