New Mexico Horse Owners Advised to Vaccinate After First 2024 West Nile Case
Horse owners across New Mexico are being urged to vaccinate their animals against West Nile virus following the state’s first confirmed human case of 2024. The New Mexico Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the New Mexico Department of Health (NMHealth) and the New Mexico Livestock Board, issued the warning after a resident in Union County contracted the virus.
Horses are particularly susceptible to West Nile virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes and can lead to neurological symptoms such as fever, weakness, and ataxia. In 2023, New Mexico confirmed 19 cases of West Nile virus in horses, six of which resulted in death.
“Don’t wait until it’s too late,” said Dr. Erin Phipps, NMHealth’s public health veterinarian. “Vaccinations can make a difference and protect your horses from West Nile virus.”
Horse owners are advised to consult their veterinarians about vaccination to reduce the risk and protect their animals from the potentially fatal virus.
