We get a lot of questions regarding West Nile Virus and its potential danger to llamas and alpacas.
Can animals become infected with West Nile Virus. The answer is yes. "Other animals have also been found to be infected and have died from WNV. During the year 2000, reports from the Eastern states found WNV infecting 58 horses, two bats, a domestic rabbit, a skunk, a cat, a gray squirrel, and a chipmunk." Having said that, ruminant species, including llamas and alpacas, have not been diagnosed with WNV. Llamas and alpacas fall into that category and do not seem to be susceptible to WNV infection.
At this time, I do not see WNV as a threat to our llamas and alpacas. Thus, I am not vaccinating for the disease. We have no way to know if the WNV vaccine would have a damaging effect or protective effect in llamas and alpacas because the vaccine was not developed for use in these two species.
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