...and on the eighth day God created the horse in perfect image, to romp, graze, gallop, play and make manure wherever it darn well pleases, in divine grace.
Okay, okay, it was West Nile Virus, not Lyme Disease, that was in Dallas, TX, this summer.
The most prevalent cases exist in eastern parts of North and South Dakota, south Michigan, western Ohio, eastern Indiana, lower southwestern PA, all of New Jersey, the Washington DC area, the San Bernardino Valley in CA, Texas and Louisiana.
The disease is spread by mosquito, which have bitten birds, and was first discovered in Uganda in 1937.
The first case in the US was reported in New York state in 1999.
It is known as a “flavivirus,” and the highest incidence of the virus occurs in early Fall, the rate of disease increasing from late August to early September.
It is not a bacteria, so anti-biotics do not help.
In mild cases, the outcome is excellent, after experiencing flu-like symptoms and muscle aches.
For severe cases, there is brain damage, left over polio-like symptoms and even death.
The Lyme Disease areas are mainly in the northeast and upper mid-west, including Minnesota, Michigan, PA, New Jersey and most of New England.
Also a bacteria, it is spread by black legged ticks.
Did anyone notice the marked decrease in the number of Botflies this summer?
I had one lonely Botfly pestering the horses, and she was a month early in arrival.
I think because of their phase- progression having to be in the ground part of the time that the drought conditions may have caused them to dry up and not hatch.
Dare we hope the drought may have had a good side effect?
I continue to watch the documentaries and emails regarding GMO’s and water purity.
Read a copy of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” and then get back to me.
She quotes Albert Schweitzer a lot and some of these scientists were decades ahead of their time.
I truly worry for the Posterity of this nation.
Solemnly leaving you, and enjoy them while you can, with the immortal words of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, “Happy Trails to You.”