Second Horse in Moses Lake Gets West Nile Virus

The West Nile Virus has claimed its second horse victim in Moses Lake, reports coming in over the weekend from Grant County Health District said. The 24-year-old gelding quarter horse is, however, on the recovery route, according to a spokesperson for the State Department of Agriculture, Jason Kelly.

Another 5-year-old quarter horse in Prosser, which was earlier infected, may have to be euthanized, Kelly added. In both cases, the horses were not vaccinated against the West Nile Virus, said the state.

These are the first two horses known to contract the virus this year. Kelly said eight horses in Yakima County were reportedly infected last year. The cases have set alarm bells ringing among the inhabitants in the area.

Speaking about the report, Dr. Alexander Brzezny, a Grant County health officer said, “These positive test results confirm that West Nile is active in Grant County. Residents and guests need to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites."

No reports of human infection, however, have been reported this season in the state. The West Nile Virus, which spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, cannot be transmitted by infected people or animals, says Grant County Public Health District spokesperson Theresa Fuller.

"The Grant County Health District confirmed that local Mosquito Control efforts have been active in the area and at this time there are no suspected or confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus in Grant County," Fuller stated.

The health district is actively pursuing an action plan to identify and quell possible infection sources. Two mosquito pools near the Benton and Yakima counties line have tested positive for West Nile Virus, so far.

Although the risk of contracting the West Nile virus is very low, anyone can become infected, according to the health district. People above 50 years of age are at the highest risk of serious illness, which may prove fatal. Generally, most people infected with West Nile virus get away with a brief illness.

About one in five infected people experiences mild symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches. About one in 150 has more severe symptoms, such as headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis, and even coma.

The state has advised people who have the first symptoms of a possible West Nile infection to get in touch with their health care providers immediately, more so if the symptoms were set off by recent mosquito bites.