07:11 PM MDT on Monday, September 12, 2005

David Gale
Idaho's NewsChannel 7

NAMPA -- The weather may be cooling down, but that doesn't mean the risk of West Nile virus is gone for the season.

Corona was once a proud show horse, but has had difficult walking since contracting the West Nile virus.

New numbers indicate cases of the virus in both humans and horses are at an all-time high in Idaho.

The difference can come down to taking the necessary precautions.

In Canyon County, one woman's failure to vaccinate her horse has proved very costly.

"He was our gold and now he isn't worth a nickel," said Anita Gellerman, horse trainer.

Her palomino named Corona was once a majestic show animal valued around $20,000.

But last week the Nampa-based horse trainer was told her horse had been infected with West Nile virus.

"This knocked this horse down. I mean, this horse will probably never be the same," said Gellerman.

It's had a neurological effect causing the horse to stumble as he walks and sometimes fall over.

"He doesn't know where his rear end is at this point," said Gellerman.

Corona is one of about 70 horses in Idaho to contract West Nile this year.

"This is about three times what we saw last year, so far. There's still more to come," said Dr. Marilyn Simunich.

Canyon County has been hit harder by the virus than any other county, except Washington County. But that doesn't bother Dan Roeser of Marsing. He vaccinated his 100 horses twice this year alone.

"Being a responsible horse owner is vaccinating your horses, just like you vaccinate your children for measles or mumps," said Roeser.

Roeser is not concerned because he's never seen a case of West Nile in a vaccinated horse.

But Dr. Simunich says vaccinated horses can get it, although the majority of cases in Idaho show the horses were not vaccinated.

"Probably 95 percent were not vaccinated or inadequately vaccinated," said Dr. Simunich.

"You know, why would you not vaccinate a valuable animal," said Roeser.

And even though it only costs around $20 to vaccinate a horse, Gellerman says she didn't understand the severity of the virus.

"Because when you are told you get West Nile virus, they say you get flu-like systems. Well, we all live through the flu. It's no big deal, right?" said Gellerman.

"And can they ever recover from this?" asked NewsChannel 7.

"Oh yeah, they can recover just like people. Some people get it and get over it. Horses can get it, get over it and go on to live a normal life," said Dr. Simunich.

But even if Corona survives, Gellerman says she'll never be able to sell him, which has taught her a hard lesson.

"Always vaccinate, definitely," said Gellerman.

State health officials say humans cannot in contract West Nile virus from a horse.

West Nile begins with an infected bird. It's only after that bird is bitten by a mosquito that the insect can pass along the virus to either a human or a horse.

However, a non-infected mosquito that bites an infected horse will not become infected. They can only get it from birds.