HORSE CARRYING 'WEST NILE VIRUS'

West Nile Virus' 1st case found in a horse!

Crook County has detected it's first case of West Nile Virus, found in a horse after 15 years of testing. According to Oregon Public Health officials and the Crook County Health Department. A horse became ill in September, it was the first to test positive for the disease since 2004 when testing began. According to officials, the horse had spent time in both the Prineville and the Post/Paulina areas, and had not traveled outside of the county during its exposure period.

The diagram shows how West Nile virus is transmitted from mosquitoes feeding on infected birds; which are considered hosts. The infected mosquitoes then bite and transfer the virus to both humans and horses.

Though this is not the season for the virus, folks in the area should take this matter seriously, exercise precautions and avoid the risks of contracting the virus.

According to News Channel 21 report: 

Karen Yeargain, LPN, communicable disease coordinator at the Crook County Health Department stated:

"There's no way to distinguish whether you just got bit by a mosquito that’s carrying West Nile versus one that’s not," says Karen Yeargain, LPN, communicable disease coordinator at the Crook County Health Department. "You won’t know."

Cliff Kizer, manager of Crook County Vector Control: 

"It is unlikely that other livestock, like cattle, could catch the virus. He said mosquito bites act like "vaccination," and when the cattle get bitten, they develop immunity to the disease.
“The general population of warm-blooded animals will develop resistance, and people and horses will also, but we don’t want to take the chance of losing even one person to it," Kizer said.
Luckily, there have been no residents of Crook County diagnosed with West Nile illness.

If you feel you have been exposed to the virus here is some information that may help.

Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment

Symptoms:
No symptoms in most people. Most people (8 out of 10) infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms.

Febrile illness (fever) in some people. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.

• Serious symptoms in a few people. About 1 in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).
• Symptoms of severe illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.
• Severe illness can occur in people of any age; however, people over 60 years of age are at greater risk. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk.
• Recovery from severe illness might take several weeks or months. Some effects to the central nervous system might be permanent.
• About 1 out of 10 people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system die.

Diagnosis:

See your healthcare provider if you develop the symptoms described above.
Your healthcare provider can order tests to look for West Nile virus infection.

Treatment:

No vaccine or specific antiviral treatments for West Nile virus infection are available.
Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used to reduce fever and relieve some symptoms
In severe cases, patients often need to be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment, such as intravenous fluids, pain medication, and nursing care.
If you think you or a family member might have West Nile virus disease, talk with your healthcare provider.