Ministry of Agriculture

In the decade since its initial North American detection in New York in 1999, West Nile Virus has been reported throughout the United States and in most of the Canadian provinces.  West Nile Virus (WNV) is transmitted primarily to wild birds by infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can also transmit WNV to humans, horses and occasionally to other animals. In August and September 2009 the first evidence of circulating West Nile virus in British Columbia was reported in mosquito pools, humans, and horses.
Detection of  WNV  in crows and other corvids (ravens, magpies, jays), which are very sensitive to the infection, is often used as an early warning of its presence in mosquitoes in new locations. Since April 2003 the Animal Health Centre has worked in close cooperation with the Canadian Wildlife Service,  the BC Centre for Disease Control and the Regional Health Authorities to monitor for the presence of the WNV in dead corvid species. The public is requested to notify their Local Health Authority if they encounter a dead corvid and the Health Authority will decide if the bird should be forwarded to the Animal Health Centre for testing for WNV. Members of the public can also register their sighting through the online dead corvid reporting system link on the BC-CDC website.
Horses with WNV can exhibit a range of signs such as stumbling, confusion, listlessness, head pressing, lack of appetite, inability to stand, seizures and weakness. In severe cases (about 30%), horses that develop clinical signs will die or be euthanized. Although there is no specific treatment for the disease, there are vaccines to prevent WNV in horses. Horse owners should consult with their veterinarian about WNV vaccination, routinely drain standing water around homes and barns to reduce mosquito breeding sites, and use insecticides according to the label when needed.

Links for Additional Information on West Nile Virus:

Funding to assist West Nile Virus Program Planning: