WEST NILE VIRUS IN HORSES IN HUNGARY: EPIDEMIOLOGY, DIAGNOSTIC AND PREVENTION TECHNICS

Abstract

West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging pathogen in Hungary, causing severe outbreaks in equines and humans since 2007. Mosquitoes transmit this zoonotic arbovirus between wild birds (natural hosts) and other vertebrates. Horses and humans are incidental, dead-end hosts but can develop severe neurological disorders.