Department Press Release 07-20-2001 Terence McElroy (850) 488-3022 Florida Reports First Equine Case of West Nile Virus Confirmed in Jefferson County TALLAHASSEE - Following reports of four crows in North Florida and one crow in South Georgia testing positive for West Nile virus (WNV), officials today reported the first confirmed case of WNV in a horse in Jefferson County, Florida. Laboratory results were confirmed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. This is the first confirmation of an equine WNV infection in the United States in 2001. This is also the first-ever case of WNV infection in a U.S. horse residing south of Delaware and the earliest in a year that onset of clinical illness in a horse has ever been known in the United States. Previous earliest onset of clinical WNV illness in a U.S. horse was August 17, 2000 in Staten Island, New York. This case comes at the beginning of Florida's mosquito season. "We are being faced with a challenge of controlling the mosquitoes that carry this new virus," said Commissioner of Agriculture, Charles Bronson. Bronson explained that WNV is maintained in the wild bird population, and normal bird migration routes likely brought the disease to Florida from the New York area where it was first discovered in 1999. "We will be just as vigilant in our disease surveillance and mosquito control efforts for all Florida as we are responding to this outbreak in North Florida." Bronson's agency, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), is working in conjunction with the Florida Department of Health (DOH), the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Mosquito Control Specialists and others to respond to this challenge. Officials were expecting the arrival of WNV in Florida, and they have been planning for the possible finding of WNV for more than a year now. Florida has one of the most aggressive surveillance programs in the country. "In Florida, we go out actively looking for diseases we know may be introduced, so we hope that we find them quick enough to take protective measures," said Bronson. "It means we start responding at the earliest possible moment." FDACS continues to work with USDA licensing authorities to facilitate the availability of a safe WNV vaccine for horses. FDACS is also testing mosquitoes to determine which species in Florida may transmit the virus. Mosquito control agencies can tailor their methods to combat specific species and more effectively control the mosquito populations. Clinical signs of WNV in horses include facial muscle twitchings and acute hindlimb muscle weakness or impaired muscle function. There has been no evidence of any cases involving humans. Bronson reiterated that to protect themselves against mosquitoes, Floridians should take the following precautions: Minimize outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. When outdoors when mosquitoes are present, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Use mosquito repellent as directed by the manufacturer. Eliminate mosquito breeding grounds on your property by cleaning out bird baths, and eliminating standing water in containers, plant pots, old tires, eaves, troughs and gutters. For further information, check out the FDACS Florida Arbovirus Website at http://doacs.state.fl.us/~aes/westnile2001/WestNile.htm. Brochures are available through the FDACS Division of Animal Industry, 850-410-0900. -30- Return to Top of Page