Rabies found in Wyoming horse

A horse from Cheyenne, WY, has tested positive for rabies, according to Myrna Miller, veterinary virologist with the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory (WSVL). So far four cases of skunk rabies have been found in Laramie County, WY this year. Many people associate rabies in domestic animals with dogs and cats and only consider these animals for vaccination, said Miller. “But in Wyoming, cattle are the most common domestic animal diagnosed with rabies followed by horses, dogs and cats,” she said. Vaccinating pets is important to prevent infection should a rabid animal bite them, said Miller. Vaccination for rabies may also be considered for horses and livestock with close contact with humans. Northeastern Wyoming has been the endemic area for rabies in Wyoming since 1988 but in 2011, a new strain of rabies—the south-central skunk variant—spread into Laramie County from northern Colorado. — WLJ