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West Nile Virus confirmed in Kentucky horse
US vets have confirmed the presence of West Nile Virus in a horse from Kentucky.

Discovery is the US state’s second case of 2019

US vets have confirmed the presence of West Nile Virus (WNV) in a horse from Kentucky.

According to The Horse.com, the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed the presence of the disease in a five-month-old rocky mountain horse from Powell County.

On Wednesday (9 October), the horse presented with clinical signs compatible with the disease. Vets collected and tested a sample from the horse the following day.

The horse, which had not been vaccinated against WNV, failed to respond to treatment and its condition gradually deteriorated until it died.

This is the second horse to be confirmed with WNV in Kentucky this year. In September, officials at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture confirmed the disease in a seven-year-old Paint gelding.

Other US states that are reported to have confirmed equine WNV cases include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Washington.

WNV is an incurable condition, but with supportive care, some horses do recover. The disease is spread by infected mosquitos, with clinical signs including mild anorexia, drowsiness and asymmetrical ataxia.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners recommends all horses are vaccinated against WNV at least once a year.

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
Germany livestock import ban lifted

The UK government has amended its ban on the import of livestock, meat and dairy products from Germany.

Defra said the decision follows 'rigorous technical assessment' of the measures applied and the current situation. "If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity," it said.

The ban was implemented in January following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) near Berlin. Personal imports of meat, milk and dairy products will remain in place at a country level.