Other diagnostics include PCR of CNS tissues and immunohistochemistry. If you decide to perform a postmortem in the field, please refer to USDA guidelines. In the Italian outbreak, no treatments were effective. Similar findings occurred in the U.S. cases, as well. Regardless of the treatment, horses that survive usually recovered very quickly.
Supportive care is the only therapeutic alternative.
Local mosquito control authorities may be able to help in assessing the mosquito breeding risks associated with a specific property. At the present time, there is NOT a vaccine available. As of February 2001, no WNV has been confirmed in Ohio. Infected mosquitoes were found last fall in Erie, Pennsylvania, only 20 miles from the Ohio border. Therefore, spread to Ohio is expected.