A horse in Duplin County is the state's first confirmed case of West Nile Virus. The horse, which was not vaccinated against the disease, was euthanized after contracting the virus. The incident has those who take care of and raise horses in Eastern North Carolina on alert. Marianne Bartley-Lehman, an equine technology instructor at Martin Community College, says all breeds and ages of horses are susceptible to the virus. Lehman points out the best weapon is to have horses vaccinated for West Nile and maintain their booster shots. She also says keeping the barn area free of stagnant water pools and rinsing the horses water buckets frequently can cut down on mosquito nesting sites.
Visit the CDC’s site on the West Nile Virus for more information.
