Buzzword: West Nile Virus could hit Montana hard

By KAYLEY MENDENHALL, Chronicle Staff Writer

West Nile Virus could hit Montana earlier and harder this year than in years past.

"We do anticipate that it will be worse before it gets better," said Jim Murphy, health officer for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. "What we're worried about is that it just got its foot in the door last year and that this could be the bad year."

If that prediction comes true, Gallatin County could start to see cases of West Nile Virus as early as next month, said Marc Schure, public health promotion specialist for the Gallatin City/County Health Department. During the past two summers the mosquito-borne virus did not arrive in Gallatin County until late in the season.

Last year, only one person was diagnosed with West Nile Virus in Gallatin County. Statewide, the virus afflicted 228 people, four of whom died, and 193 horses.

But, Murphy said, those numbers are nothing compared with the nearly 2,000 cases documented in the Dakotas in 2003, 19 of which were fatal. Montana could be hit just as hard if not harder than surrounding states this year.

"Basically the infection took a while to march across the country. It's relatively new to Montana," Murphy said. "We're not waiting for it to get here and move slowly across the state anymore. It's here."

Some adult mosquitoes and mosquito eggs infected with West Nile will have survived the winter, he said. As soon as they hatch they can start transmitting the virus, which mostly impacts people and horses.

Local veterinarians have already been working to vaccinate horses against the disease, said Dr. Lisa Baller of Equine Veterinary Associates.

Most horse owners had their animals vaccinated last year or the year before, Baller said, but those horses still need to receive an annual booster shot. Horses that have never been vaccinated need to receive two shots, three to six weeks apart.

"There is no cure for it," Baller said. "Nursing care and supportive therapy is the only thing we can offer."

About 60 percent of horses infected with West Nile recover, she said. But that still means that 40 percent of cases end in fatalities.

"Even those that recover from it, the data shows they have some residual or lasting affects from the disease. The horses aren't quite right," Baller said. "We don't know for sure what all is happening, but it's definitely something you want to prevent your horse from getting."

To protect horses and humans from West Nile, health experts recommend removing any sources of stagnant water from around homes and barns; putting up screens to keep mosquitoes outside; wearing protective clothing and using mosquito repellent when spending time outdoors.

"Avoiding the bites is kind of tough because people don't want to stay indoors during the summer in Montana," Murphy said. "They should anticipate that things could be worse."

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