Preventing West Nile Virus at the Big E

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Preventing the spread of West Nile Virus seems to be on everyone's mind these days. Many areas of Western Massachusetts are on high alert.

On Saturday 22News visited some of the animal owners at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield to find out how they protect their animals in a region where there is increased risk of West Nile Virus.

The town of West Springfield will be at a high risk level for West Nile Virus until at least the first hard frost of the season. And for the next two weeks, the West Side will play host to a lot of people and a lot of animals during the Big E.

The best way to protect animals from West Nile Virus is the same method as protecting people. And that's limiting their exposure to mosquitoes that could carry the disease.

Farmers already change their animals' water twice a day, so there's little chance for standing water. And most farmers already have a high standard of care as it is.

“It's very stressful for an animal when you change their care patterns, so we try very hard to maintain their care patterns and maybe just heighten our own awareness as to what their health issues may be,” said Donna Woolam, the director of agriculture and education at the Big E.

Caring for an animal is a full time job, and it wouldn't take long for an owner to notice a change in health.

“Dairy farmers would look at their animals probably many times everyday to make sure there's no respiratory issues, no fever. they look at milk weights. And those are really good ways to tell if an animal is feeling off,” said Jessica Hunt of Orange.

“In the morning if a cow is acting great, by afternoon if she's acting a little bit different a farmer can tell and they'll take her temperature and make sure she is taken care of,” said Jessica Chickering of Westmoreland, NH.

It's that quality of care and concern that keeps many of these animals bringing home the ribbons.