(NAPSA)—Alarmed by the prolifie spread of West Nile virus in recent years and the dramatic reemergence of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) in 2003, equine health experts are strongly urging horse owners to vaccinate their animals as soon as possible against deadly mosquito-borne diseases. West Nile Virus Remains A Deadly Threat An official from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently predicted that West Nile virus would continue to spread across the country, and the West Coast—California in particular— would be hit hard in 2004. Dr. Lyle Peterson, acting director of the CDC's division of vector-borne diseases, said that California would likely be the epicenter for West Nile virus in 2004. The CDC wasfunneling more moneyinto the state to improve virus surveillance and enhance public awareness. Since horses contract West Nile virus more frequently than any other mammal, California’s one million horses, which represent the second-largest equine population in the United States, are at great risk. As a result, the Center for Equine Health at the University of California at Davis is recommending California horse owners to vaccinate their horses for West Nile virus before the summer’s peak mosquito season. Vaccine Proven In The Face Of An Epidemic Fort Dodge Animal Health developed the first West Nile virus vaccine for horses in 2001. More than 13 million doses of the West Nile-Innovator “whole cell” vac- a) Veterinarians now have a powerful vaccine to prevent mosquitobornethreats. cine have been administered safely to horses coast to coast in recent years, according to Steve Hoffman, marketing manager for Equine Products at Fort Dodge Animal Health. West Nile-Innovator has been proven 95 percent effective in the largest natural mosquito challenge in history, as well as in a severe laboratory challenge where horses were exposed to West Nile virus at levels significantly higher than found in nature. Cases of West Nile virus disease in horses declined 70 percent from 2002 to 2003. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Inspection Service, vaccination with West Nile-Innovator is believed to have contributed to this significant decline in disease incidence. “The West Nile-Innovator vaccine has been proven in the face of a major national epidemic and has played an instrumental role in protecting horses from this deadly virus,” said Hoffman. “It offers the best combination of safety, efficacy and history.” Vaccine Booster Crucial For Continuous Protection For the millions of horses previously vaccinated with West NileInnovator, an annual boosteris all that is needed to maintain continuous disease protection. “With West-Nile Innovator, a single booster of the vaccine will protect against West Nile disease yearround,” Hoffman said. Equine Encephalomyelitis On The Rise Certain portions of the country havereported a dramatic increase in equine encephalomyelitis. Since West Nile virus and encephalomyelitis have similar symptoms, they are often mistaken for each other. “The newly developed West Nile-Innovator combination vaccines provide veterinarians with powerful and convenient weapons to prevent both of these mosquito-borne threats in a single inoculation,” noted Hoffman. Available only through licensed veterinarians, the new West NileInnovator vaccines are formulated in four different combinations to protect against West Nile virus and three types of encephalomyelitis. With these combinations, veterinarians can customize protection for horses based on the disease risk in theirlocal area. All of the West Nile-Innovator combination vaccines contain the first USDA-approved West Nile virus fraction developed by Fort Dodge Animal Health, which has been proven safe and effective in the face of the recent and deadly national outbreak. For more information, visit www.equinewestnile.com.
