Prevention
Vaccination can greatly reduce the risk of horses suffering the consequences of West Nile virus. This effectiveness has been successfully shown in the
United States where the number of reported equine cases has declined year-on-year since the height of
the 2002 outbreak.
To protect horses against West Nile virus, the animal needs to be vaccinated prior to the swarming season
of the mosquito and so before the animal is at risk of being bitten.
- Control of the vector:
Insecticides are a simple and effective method of reducing mosquito populations. However these will only act to kill the adult mosquitoes.
To control the main source of mosquitoes, activities should be focused at eliminating the mosquitoes’ breeding areas in order to reduce the number of mosquito larvae.
- Change the water from troughs or other drinking receptacles at least every 4 days – but preferably daily.
- Remove any containers (tyres, old feed buckets) where water could collect and keep your horse’s environment tidy.
- Keep lids on any bins and containers.
- Clean and remove debris on a regular basis from gutters to prevent water collecting in them.
- If available and not banned for use in your country consider purchasing mosquito-eating fish for use in ponds, etc.
- Reducing horses’ exposure to the vector:
- If possible keep horses stabled during dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
- Turn off lights so as not to attract mosquitoes at night, or alternatively use fluorescent lights which do not attract mosquitoes.
- Affix mosquito-proof screens to stable windows.
