State agricultural officials said Friday a horse in Boulder County has been diagnosed with West Nile virus, becoming the first confirmed case in livestock this year.
“Strict insect control is an important factor to inhibit the transmission of West Nile Virus. I encourage livestock owners to keep an eye out for standing water for mosquito populations,” State Veterinarian Dr. Keith Roehr said in a statement.
West Nile in Boulder, Weld, Larimer and Denver counties this year.
Colorado’s first human case of the virus this year was diagnosed in a Mesa County man, the state’s health department reported earlier this month. The department says it expects more counties to find infected mosquitoes as summer continues.
Last year, 118 people in Colorado are known to have contracted West Nile virus, and four died.
Health officials advise using mosquito repellent — DEET is an effective ingredient — and otherwise avoid mosquitoes.
“Infected horses may display symptoms including head tilt, muscle tremors, stumbling, lack of coordination, weakness of the limbs or partial paralysis,” state agricultural officials said in a news release. “The clinical signs of (the virus) are consistent with other important neurological diseases such as equine encephalitis, rabies, and equine herpes virus.”
Vaccines have proven to be an effective prevention tool for livestock, the release said.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul
