The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2003-03-26, Page 25THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2003. PAGE 25. Time to vaccinate horses for West Nile By Keith Roulston Citizen publisher Owners of horses worried about them contracting West Nile Virus should hurry to get them vaccinated, an Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food veterinarian told 100 people attending a meeting in Brussels, March 19. Dr. Leslie Woodcock told horse owners from across midwestem Ontario that the immunization, which requires two shots, three to six weeks apart, needs to be done four to five weeks prior to exposure to mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus. Since the first mosquitoes appear in May there’s no time to waste, she advised. Those horses that have had two shots at least 30 days previous to being exposed to the virus have 94 per cent protection, Woodcock said. “All equines need to be vaccinated,” including donkeys and mules, she told the audience at the Brussels Legion. At this point it’s felt that an annual booster shot will be required to maintain immunity, she said. In fact some experts are advising a booster later this summer when the mosquito danger is at its highest. Woodcock admitted that the advice being given right now may be different by the end of the summer because the issue is so new. “We’re learning as we go,” she said. Last year there were 107 cases of equine West Nile Virus infection confirmed in Ontario, clustered in the Niagara, Haldimand and Essex areas. Mortality in unvaccinated horses is 25-30 per cent. The virus attacks the spinal system of the animals, causing a sudden lack of co-ordination. The animals remain mentally alert and ready to eat but are so unco-ordinated they can’t. They suffer twitching muscles and often their nose starts shaking. They don’t know where their feet are. Eventually the animals may go down and the survival rate among those that do is not good. Besides vaccinating their animals, owners can take other precautions to reduce risk, Woodcock said. The types of mosquitoes that carry the virus tend to breed in shallow, stagnant water so emptying rain barrels and bird baths once a week, cleaning out eavestroughs to make sure they drain well and disposing of old tires that might hold water, can help prevent proliferation. Horses allowed outside at night during mosquito season, particularly at dusk, are being put at risk, Woodcock said. If they’re inside, put fly screens on windows. Don’t leave doors open and lights on that will attract mosquitoes. Incandescent lighting seems to attract mosquitoes more than fluorescent. Insect repellents can also be used on the horses. Woodcock was joined by a panel of three veterinarians who specialize in treating horses for a question and answer period. Drs. Katie Crossman of Kirkton Veterinary Clinic, Maxina Von Herbing of the Huron- Bruce Equine Service in Wingham and Terri O’Sullivan of the Listowel Veterinary Clinic passed on their knowledge of the disease,. Farm groups worried about WTO negotiations By Keith Roulston Citizen publisher Representatives of supply managed commodities expressed concern about the current round of the World Trade Organization negotiations when they spoke at the Members of Parliament meeting of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture, Saturday. Brian Durst of the egg and pullet producers, in a written brief, said the tariff reductions proposed in the first draft of the report by WTO “would spell the end of supply management”. The proposals would reduce tariffs protecting Canadian producers and at the same time require importing of more than double the current 10 per cent market share from other countries. And if the first draft was bad, “the second draft is as bad as the first,” said John Maaskant of the Huron chicken producers. Maaskant worried that Canada’s negotiating team could adopt a strategy that would play into the hands of the U.S. and European Union. “We want to make sure that the negotiating team is going to be aggressive, well-equipped and strategic,” he told Paul Steckle, MP for Huron-Bruce and chair of the standing committee of agriculture and agri-food. Maaskant urged Canada to seek alliances with third world countries. The current WTO proposals won’t help any sector of Canadian agriculture or any region, he warned. “That’s why we supported a balanced position.” Maaskant said he was encouraged by good discussions between leaders of the supply-managed sector and Pierre Pettigrew, the trade minister. Jocelyn deBoer representing the dairy producers, noted farmers in her sector were frustrated that Canada was forced by the WTO to stop its export programs. “We’re complying, but nobody else does.” Pointing to the U.S. and New Zealand she argued “I sometimes think we’re the only country that’s complying with the rules.” Steckle said he has little sympathy with the dairy producers’ loss of the export program because they were bending the rules. But generally Canada is living up to the trade rules while the U.S. does not. “But they’re not going to,” he warned. They are a big player and Canada is a small player and the U.S. will continue to do what it wants. Road Watch Huron is a community initiative empowering people to save lives. If you observe an act of impaired or aggressive driving on the roads of Huron County please fill in a citizen report form. ROAD WATCH’------------------------------------- Forms are available at the following locations: Auburn Sticker’s Family Restaurant & Gas Bar Belgrave Belgrave Variety Bluevale Diesel Car Diner & Gas Bar Blyth Scrimgeour’s Food Market For more information call Huron County Health Unit 482-3416 or if long distance 1-877-837-6143 Brussels J.R.’s Gas Bar & Take Out Fordwich Bare Necessities Gorrie Watson’s Home Hardware & Building Supplies Wroxeter Sam’s of Wroxeter General Store Business Directory MUFFLERS - VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION DAN'S AUTO REPAIR - COMPLETE MECHANICAL SERVICE - COMPUTERIZED TUNE-UPS - TIRES - BRAKES z----------------\' Frank Workman i Electric Owned and Operated by Dan & Heather Snell RR 3, Blyth, Ont. NOM 1HO (on the Westfield Rd.) DAN SNELL, Automotive Technician 523-4356 20 years serving Brussels & area •Farm •Hbme •Commercial R.R. #3,k 887-6867 J LEE'S SERVICE CENTRE^ 348 Dinsley St., Blyth, Ontario Repairs to all makes & models of cars & trucks Air Conditioning • Car Oiling • Snow Removal Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 5:30 pm; Sat. 8 am - 12 noon CHRIS LEE: Phone: Bus. 519-523-9151 k Res. 519-523-4343 DRILLED & BORED WELLS COMPLETE PUMP SYSTEMS FARM-RESIDENTIAL-IRRIGATION HAYDEN WATER WELLS Since 1944 1-888-535-4455 Lucan, ON CIRDO BDO Dunwoody, "llp\ I W XX Chartered Accountants and Consultants Offering a full range of services: auditing, accounting, business planning, income tax planning, personal financial planning, computer and management services. Alan P. Reed, CA P.O. Box 1420, 152 Josephine St., Wingham, ON NOG 2W0 areed@bdo.ca 357-3231 k ______Offices throughout Ontario and Canada______ d WARD & UPTIGROVE. LLP* P.O. Box 127 145 Main Street East Listowel, Ontario N4W 3H2 PHONE: (519) 291-3040 Fax: (519) 291-1850 Email: wuca@w-u.on.ca J Help for Today. Hope for Tomorrow. Today, 1 in 13 Canadians over 65 is affected by Alzheimer Disease and related dementias: For more information, contact your local Alzheimer Society or visit our Web site at www.alzheimer.ca Alzheimer Society • Canadian Study of Heald) and Aging ? Affordable CAR AND TRUCK k. RENTALS J Large & Small Trucks fridgecarts - piano dollys- moving blankets Complete Selection of Cars Our rates qualify for insurance replacement Passenger Vans full size or mini STRICKLANDS 344 Huron Rd. B24-9381 < \GODERICH 1-800-338-1134 McKILL0P\ MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY 91 Main St., South, Seaforth Office 527-0400 1-800-463-9204 AGENTS Graeme Craig Bob McNaughton Donald Taylor Banter & Mac Ewan & 887-9381 527-1571 482-9976 Feagan Insurance Ltd. 524-8376 Gaiser Kneale Insurance Brokers Inc. Thames Insurance Brokers, Exeter Cockwell 482-3401 235-2211 ^Insurance Brokers 356-221jy