West Nile is a fascinating virus that in most people causes no obvious symptoms. Some people are only mildly affected but those over 70 in particular can present with acute flaccid paralysis very much like polio but much faster. Then the agitated delirium, fever, low sodium and multiple organ system failure. This pandemic seems to be strengthening and why we are not going door to door eliminating standing water and spraying the neighborhoods with insecticides is beyond me. This virus may some day be the malaria or yellow fever or our generation and people are going to look back and say "why didn't we do something about it in the beginning?"

With the horses, they make a vaccine, not sure about other animals, but I vaccinate my horses and its only 25.00 per vaccine I think.

The American Animal Hospital Association makes the following points on its site: West Nile virus most often sickens horses and birds. While cats have been known to become ill with infection by the virus, dogs seem to be relatively resistant to developing clinical illness as a result of exposure to West Nile. Cases of this disease showing up in dogs, very rare, generally occur among dogs with compromised immune systems, or in elderly or very young dogs. Symptoms of the virus in infected dogs or cats include similar signs to those exhibited by infected horses: depression, decreased appetite, difficulty walking, tremors, abnormal head posture, circling and convulsions. Contact your veterinarian right away if your pet shows any of these signs. Whether the cause is West Nile or some other medical condition, prompt professional veterinary care will assure your pet of his or her best chance for complete recover. Copyright WEST NILE VIRUS 2012 AUGUST 23, 2012BY: SUSAN NC PRICE

Are animals of any kind endangered by wes nile???