HEUVELTON (AP) -- A state senator is hosting two vaccination clinics for horses to prevent a mosquito-borne brain infection that killed 12 horses and a little girl last year in upstate New York.
The first clinic is this evening on an Amish farm in the St. Lawrence County town of Heuvelton. Sen. Patty Ritchie says the location was chosen because almost half the horses killed by the virus are owned by Amish families.
The virus, eastern equine encephalitis, is 90 percent fatal among horses. The vaccine is almost 100 percent effective in preventing the disease. But there's no vaccine for humans.
Ritchie obtained funds in the state budget for aerial spraying, mosquito larvicide for property owners, improved detection, and discounted vaccines from vets.
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