DOVER, Del. (AP) - Authorities have confirmed the first case of West Nile Virus in a horse in Delaware since 2015.
The Office of the State Veterinarian said Tuesday that the infected horse was an 11-year-old Quarter horse mare in Kent County.
Officials say the horse started showing signs of weakness in its limbs on Aug. 6 and was euthanized days later when it was no longer able to stand.
While this is the first confirmed horse case this year, officials have detected the virus in sentinel chickens and a wild crow. Eastern Equine Encephalitis has also been confirmed in a sentinel chicken this year.
So far, neither the West Nile Virus nor Eastern Equine Encephalitis have been found in humans in Delaware.
Officials are urging horse owners to have the animals vaccinated.
