West Nile Virus

More information about West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, including Eastern equine encephalitis, is available in the news releases listed below. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has approved picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus for protecting against mosquitoes. This is in addition to DEET, long known to be effective. Further information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm. To lessen risk of diseases that mosquitoes spread, eliminate all standing water to remove mosquito breeding ground, use mosquito repellent, and vaccinate your horses.

For up-to-date statistics on number of West Nile cases please visit Center for Disease Control West Nile Virus Update.

News Releases:

Experts:

Dr. William Hope
Head of the Purdue Community Large Animal Veterinary Practice
(765) 494-8548
hopew@purdue.edu

Michel Levy
Associate professor of large animal medicine
Purdue University Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
(765) 494-8548
levy@purdue.edu

Leon Thacker
Head of the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Purdue University
(765) 494-7460
thackerl@purdue.edu

Ralph Williams
Professor of entomology
Purdue University Department of Entomology
(765) 494-4560
ralph_williams@entm.purdue.edu

Purdue Extension Publications:

West Nile virus backgrounder

West Nile Virus in Indiana

Mosquito-Nuisance and Disease Carrier (pdf)

Management of Ponds, Wetlands, and Other Water Reservoirs to Minimize Mosquitoes (pdf)

Related Web Sites:

Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL)

Purdue Department of Entomology

Indiana Department of Health

Indiana State Board of Animal Health:
Indiana Horse Tests Positive for West Nile Infection

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service:
Fact sheet on the West Nile Virus (pdf)
Q&A's on the West Nile Virus (pdf)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
West Nile virus web site

Virginia Tech Extension
West Nile virus web site

Links

Purdue Extension
Purdue Agriculture

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September 26, 2002

Protecting pets against insect-borne diseases

Dogs and cats are unlikely to become ill if exposed to West Nile virus-carrying mosquitoes, according to Purdue University veterinarians. But it's important to protect pets from insect bites because they can be infected with other diseases.

Owners should use pet-approved tick and flea controls and limit pets' exposure to areas infested by mosquitoes, ticks and fleas, said Lynn Guptill, Purdue small animal veterinarian. Pets can become ill if sprayed with repellent formulated for human use, she said.

"Though the most effective repellents for people are those with diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), this can make pets sick," Guptill said. "Only use products approved for pets."

In addition, some flea collars, sprays and oral medications are specifically for a dog or specifically for a cat and can't be used interchangeably.

Although evidence of West Nile can be found in pets' blood, other tick-borne illnesses, such as ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and mosquito- or flea-borne diseases, such as heartworm, are the ones that sicken pets, Guptill said.

CONTACT: Lynn Guptill, (765) 494-1107, guptillc@purdue.edu.

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