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Saxony Urges Horse Owners to Vaccinate Against West Nile Before Mosquito Season

Officials cite a 2024 nationwide surge in equine infections despite no Saxony cases last year.

Overview

  • Germany’s Saxony social ministry advises completing primary vaccination for horses by the end of May to build protection ahead of mosquito activity.
  • The Saxony animal disease fund offers up to €20 per vaccination per horse to help owners cover costs.
  • Germany recorded 204 horse infections in 2024, with the highest numbers in Lower Saxony and Brandenburg, followed by Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein.
  • National reporting for 2025 listed four horse cases and 16 bird cases, with no cases documented in Saxony.
  • Authorities note mosquitoes transmit West Nile virus, and while many equine infections are asymptomatic, severe neurological illness and fatal outcomes can occur; experts advise stabling at dusk, removing standing water, and avoiding nighttime lights near horses.