In this episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen discusses the spread of fly-borne diseases in horses, including the examples of West Nile virus and African horse sickness.   Dr. Mortensen reflects on his personal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and draws parallels with the rapid spread of diseases among horses. The podcast covers the transmission methods, signs, symptoms, and preventative measures for various diseases. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of good barn management, vaccination, and consulting with veterinarians to protect horses from these potentially deadly illnesses. Key diseases highlighted include Equine Infectious Anemia, Vesicular Stomatitis, and different types of Encephalomyelitis.   Podcast Timeline   00:00 Introduction to Fly-Borne Diseases 00:31 Personal Experiences and COVID-19 02:07 African Horse Sickness and Modern Transport 04:37 Historical Pandemics and Modern Implications 05:23 Global Movement of Horses and Disease Prevention 06:51 Understanding Fly-Borne Diseases 07:34 Transmission and Symptoms of Fly-Borne Diseases 10:12 West Nile Virus: A Case Study 13:04 Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) 25:29 Preventing EIA and Other Fly-Borne Diseases 26:42 African Horse Sickness: A Global Threat 28:29 Global Spread of African Horse Sickness 29:27 Transmission and Impact of Midges 31:17 Forms and Symptoms of African Horse Sickness 33:05 Treatment and Prevention Strategies 35:15 Vesicular Stomatitis: A Regional Concern 38:19 Encephalomyelitis and West Nile Virus 41:41 Effective Barn Management Practices 48:06 Conclusion and Further Resources   Visit https://madbarn.com/mad-about-horses/ to learn more about the Mad About Horses podcast.  --------------------------------- Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners, handlers and practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us to learn more at ⁠⁠https://madbarn.com ⁠⁠ You can also find Mad Barn at: ⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠@madbarnequine⁠ ⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠@madbarnequine⁠⁠ TikTok ⁠⁠@madbarnequine⁠⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠ @madbarn ⁠⁠ We would love to hear from you! Please send any questions or comments to ⁠[email protected]