HOSTS:

Normal hosts are birds

Regularly affect horses (multiple test positive in Oswego County every year, vaccine available)

Humans can be affected (5 reported deaths in the last 30 years)

Dogs – only one positive case ever reported

 

RISK:

Risk to people is low, and dogs is minimal.  This is a disease that has been active in Oswego county for MANY years, and one puppy this year is the first canine to ever test positive in the state of New York.

The highest risk would be to very young (puppies under 6 months old).

 

SYPMTOMS:

At first: lethargic, lying around and not wanting to do anything, acting depressed, not eating.

Progresses quickly to neurologic signs:  stumbling, acting drunk, muscle tremors, nystagmus (eyes rapidly moving back and forth), and seizures.

 

DEVELOPMENT OF SYMPTOMS:

Symptoms typically start 5 to 15 days after exposure to disease

 

TREATMENT:

No effective treatment known for any species.

 

TRANSMISSION:

Via mosquitoes.  This means you cannot get it from a dog or a horse or a bird, you can only get it by beings stung by a mosquito.

 

PREVENTION:

-          Stay indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most prevalent

-          Apply Advantix to your dog, which protects against mosquitoes

• human mosquito products can be toxic to your dogs!

-          Spray dogs with Adams Flea & Tick Mist (temporarily repels mosquitoes)

-          Keep mosquitoes out of the house with screens and doors

-          Get rid of stagnant water pools like inside old tires or standing water in buckets or other containers

-          Apply mosquito repellant to you and your children

-          People can also wear long sleeves and pants