Horses infected with West Nile virus euthanized in Southern Nevada

Officials in Clark and Nye counties have euthanized horses infected with the West Nile virus, the Nevada Department of Agriculture said.

“Two horses in Southern Nevada have succumbed to symptoms from West Nile virus,” Peter Mundschenk, the state veterinarian with the Department of Agriculture, said Wednesday in statement.

“These sad incidents emphasize the importance of vaccinating horses against the disease,” he said.

The department is urging horse owners to remove standing water around horses to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.

Mosquitoes can carry and spread the virus. It is not passed from one horse to another.

Officials are also are reminding owners to vaccinate their horses for West Nile virus and equine encephalitis.