08/01/05 West Nile in Snohomish horses

Washington Ag August 1, 2005 The Washington State Department of Agriculture reported late last week that West Nile virus has been confirmed in two horses in Snohomish County. The horses, a mare and a foal, were imported from Europe and placed in a holding facility in California in June and then transported to Washington in mid-July. Washington State Veterinarian Dr. Leonard Eldridge believes it was California where the horses picked up West Nile. Eldridge: "You look at the incubation period from three to 15 days, something like that. And they have West Nile where the horses were at in California. So it looks like they came up incubating." Eldridge says this is a reminder that horse owners in Washington should vaccinate their horses. West Nile virus is spread by the bite from an infected mosquito and can infect people, horses and many types of birds. The horses in this case are recovering. Agriculture Development Group, Inc. will be hold the annual Washington Asparagus Commission Field Day at its Eltopia headquarters tomorrow, August 2nd beginning at 10 a.m. There will be an overview of the industry by Dr. Alan Schreiber, a review of asparagus research and what to expect in the 2006 season. I'm Bob Hoff. .