Horse owners should be on the lookout for symptoms of Murray Valley encephalitis and Kunjin virus.
Supplied: Jennifer Wehlow
Virus detections trigger warning to horse owners along Murray River
There’s more than one virus on the minds of horse owners in certain parts of the country.
Key points:
• Sentinel chickens have tested positive to two potentially deadly mosquito-borne viruses in South Australia’s Riverland
• Horse owners are warned to keep an eye out for symptoms of Murray Valley encephalitis and Kunjin virus
• Signs of the viruses in horses include tremors, an uncoordinated gait, and low-hanging head
Aside from the coronavirus pandemic, horse owners along the Murray River are being urged to keep an eye out for symptoms of two mosquito-borne viruses.
Antibodies for Murray Valley encephalitis and the Kunjin virus have been found in sentinel chickens in South Australia’s Riverland.
Routine testing of the flock at Ramco, near Waikerie, revealed the antibodies and prompted a warning to horse owners.
SA’s chief veterinary officer Mary Carr said most animals infected with the viruses showed no symptoms at all.
The virus could cause some neurological disease because the virus affected the horse’s brain.
Read the full story as it appears on the ABC news website here.
Source: ABC news
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