Disease Alerts

The Ohio State Department of Agriculture confirmed 7 new cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) in September 2018. On September 18^th12-year-old Standardbred gelding from Tuscarawas County had weak posterior limbs. The veterinarian described the symptoms as mild. The horse was not vaccinated against WNV. The horse is alive and recovering as of September 25th. On September 18^tha 7-year-old Pony mare from Tuscarawas County wouldn’t move and had weak front limbs. Facial paralysis, a low-grade fever, malaise, lack of appetite, and mild ataxia were found during the veterinarian’s examination. The horse was not vaccinated against WNV. The horse is alive and recovering as of September 25^th. On September 18tha 3-year-old Standardbred gelding from Wayne County was uncoordinated and had a low-grade fever. The horse was not vaccinated against WNV. The horse is alive and recovering as of September 26^th. On September 19^tha 7-year-old Standardbred gelding from Tuscarawas County was lame, stiff and had weak hind limbs. The unvaccinated horse is alive and responding to veterinary treatment recovering as of September 26^th.On September 19^than adult Belgian mare from Holmes County was off balance and had weak rear legs. On September 20th the horse was down and unable to rise. In spite of treatment, the owner opted to euthanize the horse on September 20^th. The horse was not vaccinated against WNV. On September 19^than adult Standardbred gelding from Wayne County had an unsteady gait. The horse was treated by a veterinarian, is alive and is recovering as of September 26^th. The thirty-eighth positive horse was a 2-year-old Morgan mare from Holmes County. The horse was not vaccinated against WNV.  As of September 28^ththe clinical outcome is not known. Serum samples collected and submitted to NVSL (seven cases) and Cornell University (one case), were all reported positive for WNV exposure by IgM capture ELISA titer of 1:400. As of September 27, Ohio has had 38 confirmed cases of WNV.