Ridecamp: Re: [RC] WNV in Colo - Rant Warning

Quoted from Maryanne Stroud Gabbani's message:
> The media need to do a SERIOUS reality check. <snip> Just because it's 
> become a media pet, doesn't make it the monster from the black lagoon or 
> something. Chill.

Creatures from the black lagoon *sell* (so do Martians invading the 
planet), everyday reality doesn't.  It's very unlikely that will ever see 
the media do a serious reality check.

Most people are like sheep - the ones in the middle of the herd panic if 
there's a bit of commotion on the edge whether or not they can see what it 
is.  It takes conscious thought and determination to not be a sheep in the 
middle of the herd and most people are way too lazy for that.  That's why 
all those stupid email hoaxes are so successful - people don't question, 
they just accept whatever comes to them as "truth".   Heck, that's why rags 
like the National Enquirer sell!

So if a drug company puts out a media campaign that implies every horse is 
going to die from a virulent "new" disease called West Nile Virus, people 
flip out and panic even though it should be rather suspect who's providing 
the information, even though the total number of horses that have 
contracted WNV is actually quite small (from what I can tell, under 100 
horse over 3 years time) and of those approx. 30% have died.  We're talking 
a *very small number* compared to the total horse horse population over the 
course of several years!  While I don't have the figures for equine deaths 
from other causes, I'd put good money on a bet that says that most horses 
that die of contagious disease in this country or anywhere in the world are 
*not* dying of WNV!

WNV is a form of encephalitis.  Sound familiar?  That's because there's 
already eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), western equine encephalitis 
(WEE), and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) to worry about too.  Are 
you currently vaccinating for those three?  If not, or if those diseases 
aren't a problem in your area, then why worry about WNV?  If you want to 
worry about some mosquito/insect vectored disease, I'd worry about EIA 
(Equine Infectious Anemia) which is just about *always* fatal for horses 
who test positive for the disease (from a Coggins test) because only 2 
options exist for them: lifelong quarantine in a screened stall or 
euthanasia. "Federal and state agencies, as well as the American 
Association of Equine Practitioners, support euthanasia as the most prudent 
option. "  quoted from 
http://www.horse-previews.com/598articles/598vetcorner.html

So like Maryanne suggests:  Reality check time!  WNV is not a likely to 
infect your horse!  Take reasonable precautions but please, don't be a sheep!

Additional references:
CDC Surveillance and Control of 
WNV  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/surv&control.htm
West Nile Virus Q&A  (Maryland Dept of Health) http://edcp.org/html/wn.html

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