Horse In Mille Lacs County Diagnosed With West Nile Virus

MILACA - A horse in Mille Lacs County has the second confirmed case of West Nile Virus so far this summer.

Dr. Paul Anderson is from the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. He says the horse was diagnosed yesterday (Tuesday).

The horse is also clinically ill. It is able to get up with some assistance, and it is eating and drinking, so we'll see how things go. But, the prognosis might not be too bad. But, the horse is definitely showing signs of neurological disease.

The first case was in a horse near Winthrop in Sibley County.

West Nile virus is regularly found in the U.S. Birds serve as the primary host of the disease. Infected mosquitoes can transmit the virus from birds and then carry it to horses and humans.

The virus can cause encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Many infected horses recover completely, especially with annual vaccinations.