Delaware

2 horses in Delaware euthanized after contracting West Nile virus from mosquito bites

Published

4 months ago

September 10, 2025

Press Room

2 horses in Delaware euthanized after contracting West Nile virus from mosquito bites

Two horses in Delaware have been euthanized after contracting West Nile virus.
The virus is carried by mosquitoes.
The Delaware Department of Agriculture recommends vaccinations for horses and ways to try to prevent mosquito bites.

Two horses have been euthanized after the first cases of West Nile virus in horses this year were confirmed in Delaware.

The Office of the State Veterinarian in the Delaware Department of Agriculture announced the Kent County cases on Sept. 9.

A 4-year-old Standardbred gelding and a 7-year-old Standardbred mare were euthanized, said Michael Lewis, chief of community relations for the department.

The onset of symptoms in these cases occurred between Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquito bites, generally in summer and fall, with a peak period for disease transmission from mid-August to mid-October.

Signs of infection in horses include fever, although not always present, along with anorexia, head pressing, depression or behavior changes, wobbling or staggering, weakness, blindness, convulsions, hind-limb weakness and muscle spasms in the head and neck.

If owners notice any of these signs in their horses, the Department of Agriculture recommends contacting a veterinarian immediately.

Animal health professionals with formal training in diagnosing or recognizing animal diseases and pests of horses and livestock are required to report suspected or confirmed cases of West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis to the Office of the State Veterinarian within 24 hours.

People can also be infected with West Nile virus, but transmission requires a mosquito bite. The virus cannot be directly transmitted between horses or between horses and people.

Advice to protect horses from mosquitoes

Horse owners can take steps in the barn and around the farm to help protect horses from mosquito bites including:

Keep horses inside during dawn and dusk, peak hours for mosquito activity
Apply topical insect repellents labeled for use on horses
Use fans in horse stalls to deter mosquitoes
Dispose of old tires and containers with standing water
Empty, clean and refill water troughs or buckets at least every two to three days to remove mosquito eggs or larvae
Contact a veterinarian to ensure they add the West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis vaccines to their annual vaccination schedule for 2026

Neither disease has a specific drug treatment. Eastern equine encephalitis in horses is fatal in 70 to 90% of cases. The West Nile virus in horses if fatal in 30% of cases.

Advice to residents for protection from mosquitoes

The Delaware Department of Agriculture reminds residents to continue taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites, including:

Wear light-colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors in mosquito-prone areas
Apply insect repellent containing 10 to 30% diethyltoluamide (DEET) according to label instructions
Avoid mosquito-infested areas and times of peak mosquito activity around dawn, dusk and night

The department recommends that residents eliminate standing water on their property that might have been there for four or more consecutive days because it can be a mosquito breeding habitat.

The mosquito season should end with the first hard freeze.

Who to contact if mosquito-borne illnesses are suspected

For questions about mosquito-borne illnesses in horses, along with calling a veterinarian, call the Delaware Department of Agriculture at 302-698-4500 and ask for the Poultry and Animal Health Section.

If people suspect they may have West Nile virus or eastern equine encephalitis, along with calling a doctor, call the Delaware Public Health Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 302-744-4990 Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or after hours at 888-295-5196 or email reportdisease@delaware.gov.

Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.

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Delaware

Delaware Sen. Chris Coons leading congressional delegation to Greenland as Trump threatens takeover

Published

8 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

Delaware Sen. Chris Coons leading congressional delegation to Greenland as Trump threatens takeover

Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware is heading a bipartisan group of congressional leaders who will meet Friday and Saturday with stakeholders in Denmark and Greenland. President Trump has threatened to take over Greenland, which is an autonomous Danish territory. Josh Sanders has the latest from the Pulse Desk.

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Delaware

Snow coming to Delaware. How much will we get, will it impact commute

Published

20 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Snow coming to Delaware. How much will we get, will it impact commute

Winter is about to make another rush into Delaware, and it might include a little snow.

The First State is going to see highs drop from the mid- to upper-40s to the freezing mark by the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

After a pleasant Jan. 13, which will feature sunny skies and highs around 46 in New Castle and 50 in Sussex County. However, that will change on Jan 14 as colder temperatures and precipitation move into the area.

There won’t be much snow, but with temperatures at or below freezing the commute will be rough.

What’s the Delaware weather forecast?

New Castle County: The front will move into the county after 1 p.m. on Jan. 14 with a 30% chance of rain in the county. Highs will be in the mid-40s. Rain will continue through the overnight hours and chance over to snow as temperatures drop into the upper 20s. Little to no snow accumulation is expected, but roads could be icy Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Rain and snow are expected until 1 p.m. Jan. 15 with highs near 35.

Kent County: The county will enjoy a sunny Jan. 13 with temperatures hitting 51 degrees. The cold front will move in during the overnight with rain before 4 a.m. and a wintery mix after 4 a.m. with the lows dropping to 30. On Jan 14, there’s a chance of rain and snow before 1 p.m. with highs reaching 38. Little to no snow accumulation is expected, but roads could be icy Wednesday night into Thursday morning

Sussex County: The county will enjoy a sunny Jan. 13 with temperatures hitting 53 degrees. The cold front will move in overnight with rain after 1 a.m. and a low around 30. On Jan 14, there’s a chance of rain and snow before 1 p.m. with highs reaching 39. Little to no snow accumulation is expected, but roads could be icy Wednesday night into Thursday morning

What is black ice?

If you are driving, you’ll need to watch out for black ice.

According to The Weather Channel, black ice is a thin layer of ice that forms on roads and is difficult to see. It’s generally found on bridges, overpasses and spots on the road shaded by trees or other objects.

If roadways are wet from rain, snow or fog and temperatures drop below 32 degrees, black ice can form on roadways.

If you hit black ice, you should do the following:

Keep your steering wheel straight.
Do not brake
Take your foot off the accelerator to reduce speed

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Delaware

Delaware fundraiser to feature Tito Paul, other ex-football players

Published

1 day ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Delaware fundraiser to feature Tito Paul, other ex-football players

Former NFL player Tito Paul is hosting a fundraiser for the Delaware County Historical Society.
The event, called Game On, will take place on Jan. 14 at the Meeker House and The Barn at Stratford.
Paul will be joined by other former Ohio State and NFL players to share stories and answer questions.

An Ohio State alumnus, a former Cincinnati Bengals player, a Super Bowl champ and an insurance agent walk into a room … but there’s no punchline because they’re all the same person.

Tito Paul is well-known for his gridiron past, which includes playing for Ohio State, where he was selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft in 1995, and winning Super Bowl XXXIII with the Denver Broncos in 1999.

But some folks may not be aware that he’s also a superstar in Delaware County, where his State Farm agency receives consistently high reviews.

Football fans will have the chance to meet Paul at Game On, a fundraiser for the Delaware County Historical Society (DCHS) on Jan. 14 at the Meeker House and The Barn at Stratford, 2690 Stratford Road, Delaware. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

The event will begin with a meet-and-greet from 6:15-7 p.m. in the Meeker House before moving to The Barn for the rest of the evening. A pizza party and soft drinks are included in the admission price, and beer will be available for purchase.

Paul will be joined by friends who also played for Ohio State, the NFL or both for an evening of football stories, NFL experiences and personal accounts of what it means to play in and win a Super Bowl. A Q&A period will follow the discussion.

In addition to Paul, guests will include:

Ty Howard: Ohio State, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans
Michael Wiley: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dee Miller: Ohio State, Green Bay Packers
Mike “Buster” Tillman: Ohio State

Adult tickets for Game On cost $50 for the full event or $35 for the pizza party only. Tickets for ages 10-18 cost $15. Members of the DCHS pay $45 for the full event or $30 for the pizza party only. Tickets are available at bit.ly/3N4frsg.

In the event of a Level 2 or Level 3 snow emergency, the event will be canceled, with a rescheduled date to be determined.

Contact features and entertainment reporter Belinda M. Paschal at bpaschal@dispatch.com.

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