04/26/06 Vaccinate for West Nile; freight summit

Washington Ag April 26, 2006 Washington state veterinarian Dr. Leonard Eldridge says the state will probably experience some exposure to West Nile virus this year. Eldridge: "And with that in mind it is good advice to do the protection for your animals and your horses that you can and one way is vaccination and another is mosquito control." Eldridge says even if your horse has been vaccinated before check with your veterinarian because it may need a booster shot. And if it is an initial vaccination, two doses are required four to six weeks apart, so immunity is not achieved until several weeks after the second vaccine. West Nile virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito so removing standing water, changing water in troughs or bird baths are important mosquito control measures. West Nile virus is fatal in 30 to 40 percent of all horses that contract it, although most horses do not become ill and show no symptoms at all. A Central Washington Regional Freight Mobility Summit is being held tomorrow in Wenatchee. The summit runs from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Washington State Apple Commission conference room. There will be an interactive discussion between regional shippers, carriers and government decision makers about the region's freight transportation system. Event sponsors include the Wenatchee Valley Transportation Council and the Central Washington Alliance for Freight Rail Transportation. I'm Bob Hoff.