Revised:  10/22/2009

New Jersey Department of Agriculture

Memo

To: Veterinarians

From: Nancy E. Halpern, DVM, State Veterinarian

Date: October 21, 2009

Re: West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Update

This has been a busy season for mosquitoes, as predicted early due to the wet spring and summer. To date in New Jersey, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) infection has been confirmed in 6 horses and 1 alpaca. Three additional horses have been diagnosed as presumptive positive for EEE. The "presumptive" status was given because brain tissue was unavailable for confirmatory testing. Of the EEE infected animals, the earliest onset date was August 18, 2009 and the most recent onset date was October 4, 2009. The EEE+ cases were from the following counties:

Atlantic (2), Burlington (2), Camden (1), Cumberland (1), Gloucester(3), Monmouth (1).

Meanwhile, the state has only one case of WNV in a 20 year-old gelding in Salem County who became ill on August 18, 2009 and has since recovered. The horse was last vaccinated for WNV in 2006.

Veterinarians are reminded that suspect or confirmed cases of WNV or EEE in livestock species are reportable to the State Veterinarian at 609-292-3965 immediately or within 48 hours, and a neurologic disease worksheet must be completed for each case reported. The worksheet is available via the internet at http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/divisions/ah/pdf/neurologic_disease_worksheet_2005.pdf.

Completed worksheets can be faxed to the Division at 609-777-8395. The NJDA-Division of Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory performs EEE and WNV testing. Fees are charged for all testing except rabies.

For information about fees or laboratory services available, submission procedures or fees, contact Dr. Betty Miguel, Director, Animal Health Laboratory at 609-292-1270 or via email at beatriz.miguel@ag.state.nj.us.