Equine herpes concerns force cancellation of Limestone horse show

The horse show scheduled for Saturday at the Crumley House in Limestone, Tenn., has been canceled due to concerns over the recent outbreak of the EHV-1 virus.

University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center officials and local veterinarians are requesting that horses not be transported until the virus is contained.

A total of six horses have been diagnosed with EHV-1, all from a single location, according to the hospital. These cases have been confined to the Dixie Stampede Show in Pigeon Forge. The horses are under quarantine, and no new cases have been diagnosed at the center.

The show Limestone show has not yet been rescheduled.

For information, visit www.crumleyhouseridingclub.com.

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Horse dies in high country equine herpes outbreak

An equine herpes virus outbreak has struck at Kennedy Meadows Resort and one horse is confirmed dead.

Resort owner Matt Bloom said the affected horses have been quarantined and that he is working with a team from University of California, Davis, Large Animal Clinic and Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

    Of the 150 horses at Kennedy Meadows, six to eight tested positive for equine herpes virus, Bloom said. Although one has died, the rest are expected to recover, he said.
An outbreak of the virus occurred earlier this year but many believed it had passed.
“Everyone thought it was pretty much gone,” Bloom said of the May and June outbreak, which stemmed from a Colorado horse event.
Bloom said he had no idea how it was brought to his high country resort but guesses it was probably from someone on a private horse over Labor Day weekend. The virus has a 10 to 14-day incubation period.
“Usually the first sign is a temperature,” said Raquelle Van Vleck, founder of ReHorse Rescue Ranch in Jamestown.
The virus can mimic symptoms of a respiratory infection or a number of other ailments, she said.
Kennedy Meadows isn’t closing and the infected horses will be quarantined and monitored closely, Bloom said.
He did say that while people can ride on the trails, it would be best to not bring horses around theirs for the time being.
There have been no new cases in three days, he said.
A Sonoma County facility was quarantined earlier this month because of equine herpes, though the cases are not directly related, according to the UC Davis Large Animal Clinic website.
The neurological form of EHV-1, known as equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy, has existed for centuries, but a strain of the virus has evolved in recent decades with virulence unlike what had been seen in the past, the UC Davis Equine Health Horse Report said.
There have been 22 confirmed cases of equine herpes in California, including one in Jackson in Amador County and one in Waterford in Stanislaus County.
Additional positive confirmed cases are in Colusa, Glenn, Kern, Los Angeles, Marin, Napa, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, and Ventura counties, the California Department of Food and Agriculture said.
Of the confirmed cases, 16 horses participated in the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah, from April 30 to May 8, where all the infected horses had attended.
They were most likely exposed there, officials said.
One of the confirmed cases participated only in the Kern County Cutting Horse Event on May 13 in Bakersfield, the CDFA said.
There are also two confirmed cases in Colorado.
Over the next seven weeks, the virus sickened 90 horses in 10 states, 13 of which died or were euthanized, the UC Davis report said.
One horse in Kern County was euthanized after showing severe neurologic signs often associated with the disease, the state Food and Agriculture Department said.
In mid-May when the outbreak was first noted, veterinarians recommended people keep their horses home for two weeks.
Those who are concerned about horses who may have been in contact with the virus can take their horses temperature twice daily, Sonora veterinarian Dr. Casey DeCino said earlier this summer.
Area residents are taking the outbreak seriously and two upcoming horse events have been canceled by the Calaveras Saddle Club.
If a horse has a body temperature above 102 degrees Fahrenheit, owners are urged to contact their veterinarian.
Equine Herpes Virus-1 is contagious and may spread quickly among horse populations, the CDFA said.
It is not transferable to humans or other animals, officials said.
“Horse-to-horse contact, aerosol transmission, and contaminated hands, equipment, tack and feed all play a role in disease spread,” the state ag department statement said. “Horses infected with the neurologic strain of EHV-1, may show any of the following clinical signs: nasal discharge, lack of coordination, hind-end weakness, lethargy and diminished tail tone.”
All California horses that have been in contact with an infected horse, show signs of the disease or test positive for it, will be quarantined to prevent further transmission, the CDFA said.

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Some Colorado counties lifting horse ban after equine herpes outbreak - Coloradoan

GRAND JUNCTION _ Some Colorado counties are lifting temporary horse bans at county facilities prompted by an outbreak of equine herpes virus.

The Mesa County Fairgrounds said Friday it will lift its horse ban next week. That will allow next weekend's horse events including team roping and barrel racing competitions to go on.

Mesa County imposed the ban May 18 in the wake of an outbreak throughout the West that apparently originated at a horse show in Ogden, Utah, in early May. Nine cases of the disease have been confirmed in Colorado, including some on private property in Mesa County.

The Boulder County Fairgrounds announced Friday it would reopen to horses. In southern Colorado, Fremont County lifted a temporary ban last week.

The virus is highly contagious among horses but harmless to humans.
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Information from: The Daily Sentinel, http://www.gjsentinel.com/

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Love County horse farm gets all-clear from equine herpes - Daily Oklahoman

The outbreak of a highly contagious, deadly horse virus, equine herpes, has been contained in Oklahoma, officials say.

A horse in Love County was identified with the disease on May 20, treated and quarantined along with the other horses on the farm. The horse was the only Oklahoma horse at the National Cutting Horse Association national championship show April 29 to May 8 in Ogden, Utah, where several horses were believed to have been infected, said acting state veterinarian Michael Herrin. That horse is now healthy, as are the roughly 30 horses on the farm.

During the first week of the outbreak, there were 86 suspect/confirmed new cases in several states. The second week had 62 new cases. The third week had 10 suspect/confirmed new cases, and the fourth week had no new cases. The virus is considered contained.

The outbreak has affected only horses attending two events and horses directly exposed to that group upon returning home. The two events are the Utah event and the Kern County Cutting Horse Event in California. Affected and exposed horses in all states are under state quarantine or movement restrictions.

Oklahoma events that host horses of an unrelated type have no increased risk of disease exposure now than before this incident began.

There have been no changes in import regulations and no recommended event cancellations issued by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

The virus can lead to respiratory illness, neurological problems, paralysis and miscarriage in pregnant mares.

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Veterinarians, horse owners keep wary eye on equine herpes outbreak

Dr. Michael White, from left, treats Megan, a horse at Crossroads Equine Veterinary Services for a sinus infection as Ciara Wright keeps Megan calm Friday in Ringgold, Ga. White treats horses for various ailments at Crossroads Equine Veterinary Services. Staff Photo by Allison Carter/Chattanooga Times Free Press

An outbreak of equine herpes at an April horse competition in Utah has horse owners and veterinarians across the country watching their four-legged friends for symptoms of a potentially deadly virus.

“We’re relying on people being responsible about exposure,” Ringgold, Ga., veterinarian Dr. Michael S. White said.

White said he’s heard of no cases in Tennessee or Georgia, but local horse owners are worried about the potential spread of the virus. An outbreak of the contagious disease appears related to a cutting horse show in Ogden, Utah, last month.

Equine herpes usually causes mild, flulike symptoms, but the virus can cause some respiratory or neurological problems that in some cases can lead to death, according to officials.

Respiratory disease is most common in weaned foals and yearlings, but older horses are more likely to transmit the virus without showing signs of infection, according to the American Association of Equine Practitioners. There are several strains, but the one involved in the Utah outbreak is the most dangerous and poses more of a risk of abortion in mares.

“The biggest problem with herpes virus, just like in people, is that particular virus likes to go latent. Then whenever you’re in a stressful situation, it can rear its ugly head again,” White said.

There are vaccines available for the strain that causes respiratory problems and abortions, he said, but the vaccines do not protect against the strain that produces neurological problems.

While there are no known local cases, state veterinary officials are making information available to horse owners to prevent the spread of the disease here.

A notice from Tennessee State Veterinarian Charles Hatcher’s office warns owners that the virus is “highly contagious” among horses. However, there is no threat to humans, spokesman Tom Womack said.

Womack said horse owners should watch for symptoms that indicate infection including fever, coughing and nasal discharge; and in foals, weakness, jaundice and respiratory distress. Neurological symptoms include poor coordination in the limbs, urine dribbling or retention, bladder weakness and the inability to get up after lying down.

University of Tennessee associate dean for research and graduate studies at Veterinarian Medical Center Dr. Michael F. McEntee said members of the horse community usually respond quickly when disease starts to spread.

“With something like that that’s starting to pop up, people are pretty good about relaying information,” McEntee said. “The word gets around.”

White said he got a lot of phone calls, especially during the first few weeks after the Utah outbreak.

“I had a couple of [horse owners] who were going to a clinic in Texas, and they were really concerned because that’s getting on out there where the herpes virus has been seen,” White said.

Dayton, Tenn., horseman J. Larry Simpson said he was worried about the virus when he took his horse, Bojangles Midnight Blaze, to Texas on May 8, the day the Utah event closed. Simpson, a contestant on the reality television series “America’s Favorite Trail Horse,” took his horse to the Lone Star state for auditions and taping.

“I was worried about it because there were horses there from all over America,” he said. “Just about every state had horses there.”

After Simpson and Blaze returned home, he called his veterinarian and fellow horse owners to make sure everyone was alerted and taking the proper precautions.

Blaze has had no symptoms and is ready for her run for the reality series’ top spot this fall, he said.

Simpson said the outbreak is affecting competitive events as summer arrives, such as the trail event the association he belongs to holds.

“The American Competitive Trail Horse Association has canceled 100 competitive trail rides in June,” he said.

Simpson, who’s a member of the trail horse association, said each of the 100 rides typically attracts about 40 horses.

Other events are affected, too.

For the first time in its 32-year history, the National Pony Express Association is postponing its annual re-enactment of the famous ride from St. Joseph, Mo., to Sacramento, Calif., this summer because of the outbreak, The Associated Press reported.

Simpson said another competition he planned to attend in Arkansas was canceled.

“They’re trying to keep it from spreading and to give it a chance to die out,” he said.

The competitive horse rider said he is taking precautions with Blaze in the meantime. He plans to go to a show in Alabama this weekend.

“I’ll just make sure she is stalled in such a way that she can’t touch another horse,” he said. “I’ll make sure when I’m on her, that I don’t let her touch noses with another horse. No kisses.”

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Horse Herpes Slows in Valley

Boise, Idaho --- An early May outbreak of equine herpes has forced veterinarians to euthanize two animals in the Treasure Valley. 

The disease was eventually traced to a cutting horse competition in Ogden, Utah, where it is believed to have originated. However, after two weeks of monitoring local livestock, vets and trainers are slowly getting ready to lift a voluntary quarantine.

The disease has threatened local horse shows, rodeos, and even the local racetrack where veteran horse trainer Joie Schoole shoes horses and is getting ready for the grand opening of Boise Downs (formerly Les Bois Racetrack).

"It's here in the valley, so a guys got to be aware of it, and you know, cautious of it," Schoole said while fitting a young mare with special aluminum racing shoes.

What Schoole doesn't want to see is any of his expensive race horses sick with equine herpes. The viral infection can kill horses and spreads through water, saliva, and even people's hands.

For more information on the disease, visit the Nampa Equine Hospital's news page: http://www.idahoequinehospital.com/blog/?cat=3

Even though no horse at the Boise track has been linked to the disease, Boise Downs management says they've been extra wary of the problem, and in constant contact with veterinarians to better understand the signs and symptoms of an outbreaks.

What does Schoole think about it?

"There's not much you can do but keep your horses at home and keep them away from other horses until everybody gets control of it," Schoole said.

That also happens to be the official recommendation from the Idaho Equine Hospital in Nampa.

Since equine herpes is extremely contagious, the hospital staff has cautioned local horse owners to closely monitor their livestock and consider a voluntary livestock quarantine for another week.

Dana Leavitt practices a different type of monitoring when it comes to local horses.

Leavitt actually monitors hundreds of horse owners who visit Flynn's Saddle shop in Boise, where she's the manager.

Leavitt says equine herpes has lately put a stop to some local rodeos and horse shows -- including the Jordan Valley Rodeo -- leaving her regulars "chomping at the bit" when it comes to showcasing their riding skills in competition.

"It's affecting the western riders, the English riders, the furriers who are shooing horses -- the trainers," Leavitt said.

The good news?

Leavitt says she hasn't heard of any new outbreaks have since early May, and the recommended quarantine from Idaho's Equine Hospital ends next week.

In the mean time:

 "Lay low, keep your horses at home and let's just wait it out another week," Leavitt cautions.

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Nebraska horse owners proceed with caution - Beatrice Daily Sun

A deadly horse virus has caught the attention of equine enthusiasts across the country.

To date, Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) has led to the euthanization of 11 horses across the United States this year and another 17 animals are showing signs of neurological problems that can lead to death, according to Duene Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County.

As the disease continues to receive national attention, veterinarians here in Nebraska are suggesting area horse owners carry on as usual.

“Horse owners need to be aware of where they’re going and what’s going on, but I probably wouldn’t be overly concerned about outbreaks at this point,” said Roy Smith, equine veterinarian from Dewitt. “I would suggest that horse owners be aware of the other horses at local events. That’s a main way the disease is spread.”

Because contact with other horses may transmit the neurological disease, workers are taking precautions at local gatherings to prevent EHV-1 from being transmitted.

Steve Whitwer, president of the Gage County Ag Society, said this year’s Gage County Fair will likely have the same precautions it does every year to ensure all the animals are safe.

“Right now, we’re just keeping a close eye out in case there would be an outbreak,” Whitwer said. “If there were to be an outbreak in the area, we would consult our fair veterinarian and see what he would suggest to us for any types of quarantines. We always have someone on the grounds checking animals in anyway.

“It’s mainly been out in the west, but if your horses do come into contact with other horses often it might put your mind at ease to vaccinate them. Obviously, some shots are more expensive than others.”

Quint VanWinkle, veterinarian with the Blue Valley Veterinary Clinic, said while vaccinations may help some symptoms, there’s no preventing the neurological symptoms of the disease.

“We know that (vaccinations) help as far as the reproductive and respiratory form,” VanWinkle said. “Because it’s a mutated form that causes this neurological version, There’s no preventing that.  It would be a recommendation to vaccinate because you’re using a vaccine that’s protecting the horses. If you have any immunity you may get some benefit, but there is no vaccine for the protection against the neurological aspect.”

Smith agreed that vaccination can be a good preventative measure to protect horses form the disease, a step he plans to take with his own horses.

“Normally, people don’t vaccinate for this but they could to be real cautious,” Smith said. “A type of new strain of some sickness comes up about every year, so how effective it is depends on which strain. I’m planning to vaccinate the ones I show. I’m cautious, but not overly protective.”

The disease first drew attention after a horse event in Ogden, Utah. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has now listed 75 confirmed cases of EHV-1 in nine states and 61 facilities that have suspected or confirmed cases.

Of the 75 confirmed cases, 58 cases are horses that were at the Ogden, Utah event. That means that the USDA is finding horses with the disease that were not at Ogden; an indication of secondary exposed horses becoming infected.

VanWinkle said there have been five quarantines in Nebraska following the incident, all of which have expired.

According to a brochure from the Nebraska equine veterinary clinic, EHV-1 can lead to forms of respiratory disease, birthing problems and death.

Indications of the disease include fever, decreased coordination, urine dribbling, weakness and inability to rise.

Because the disease hasn’t been confirmed in Nebraska, Whitwer said keeping an eye out for the symptoms and following guidelines should be enough to ensure the safety of most area horses.

“One of the most important things with the EHV virus is that it’s spread by contact,” Whitwer said. “You’re not supposed to let them drink out of the same water bucket, Since we haven’t had any horses out here exposed, we’re probably OK. When we start taking them to shows, that’s when you want to start watching them or keep them away.”

One organization that isn’t taking any chances with EHV-1 is the National Pony Express Association.

Each summer for the past 32 years, a Pony Express reenactment has been held with riders traveling from St. Joseph, Mo. to Sacramento, Calif.

They’ve rode in lightning, hail and just about any other kind of inclement weather that Mother Nature could conjure, but a deadly horse virus has forced this year’s re-ride to be postponed.

This annual re-ride organized by the National Pony Express Association is a commemoration of the Pony Express which began in St. Joseph, Mo. on April 3, 1860. The ride takes place along the Pony Express Trail.

The re-enactment was originally scheduled to leave St. Joseph on June 8, but due to safety concerns surrounding a recent outbreak of EHV-1 the ride has been postponed and will leave St. Joseph on Aug. 17.

“We just want to be responsible horse owners,” said Wayne Brandt, superintendent of Rock Creek Station and director of the Jefferson County National Pony Express Association, where the re-ride stops on the second day each year and will arrive on Aug. 18 this year. “We don’t want to have any part in spreading (EHV-1), we don’t want that around here.”

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Utah equine herpes cases decline; horse events cleared - ABC 4

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Utah agriculture officials say the presence of the equine herpes virus in Utah horses has declined.

According to a release from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, horse owners should feel free to participate in rodeos, horse shows, parades and other horse events in the near future.

UDAF said that Utah veterinarians have seen no other cases of EHV-1 in horses that attended the National Cutting Horse Association's Western National Championship in Ogden, Utah that ended May 8th.

State Veterinarian Dr. Bruce King says that enough time has passed for most horses that may have been exposed to the virus traced to the Ogden horse show to have developed the disease, and that horses that have shown symptoms of the disease will remain quarantined at their private facilities and closely monitored until it is clear the virus is no longer present.

UDAF officials encouraged owners to practice good biosecurity in reference to their horses to help protect the industry.

---Information from: UDAF.

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Spruce Meadows deemed low risk for spread of new horse herpes virus

The equine herpes virus that forced the cancellation of some rodeos will not stop international equestrian events from going on at Spruce Meadows this week, although bio-security measures have been heightened.

The $800,000 National tournament starts Wednesday and includes horses worth millions of dollars.

Equestrian and rodeo horses do not mix and because there have been few confirmed cases of the EHV-1 virus in Alberta, the risk of it spreading at Canada's premier equestrian venue was deemed low by the veterinarians Spruce Meadows consults.

"Because the speedskaters are affected by something doesn't mean the hockey players are," Spruce Meadows vice-president Ian Allison said Tuesday. "It's been very well contained in one equine community and doesn't effect us.

"We have taken steps to mitigate any risk we determined was real."

EHV-1 poses no threat to humans, but can cause respiratory failure, miscarriages and brain and spinal cord disease in horses. It can also be fatal. The virus is extremely contagious and can be spread via people, feed or shared equipment.

It is believed to have originated at a cutting competition in Ogden, Utah, and has spread through the western United States. There have been some reported cases in western Canada. Rodeos in High River, Okotoks and Nanton, Alta., were cancelled as a precautionary measure.

All horses competing at Spruce Meadows must pass a veterinarian's inspection and arrive with records verifying their health and where they've been.

Allison says Spruce Meadows has consulted daily with a veterinary panel since May 1 about this virus. Some parade and colour horses will not be used during Spruce Meadows ceremonies because it can't be determined what other horses they've had contact with in the last three months.

Competitors and staff are reminded not to share feed buckets and to wash their hands often. The commercial carriers who transport horses to and from the airport have been asked to disinfect their vehicles and the Spruce Meadows stables have been cleaned and disinfected.

"We're satisfied that the steps and measures have been taken, yet we still emphasized it this morning at our riders meeting and really want people to understand there are ways to virtually put this thing to zero risk," Allison said.

"It never hurts to emphasize it in case people become more casual in their approach to things and think the threat may have passed, although the threat is minimal."

While many of those who attend Spruce Meadows to watch events are horse owners themselves, the public doesn't have access to the fenced-off stables, Allison pointed out.

No riders have pulled their horses out of the National, although Allison says he got calls from all over the world asking about the situation over the last month.

Eric Lamaze's horse Hickstead arrived early Tuesday morning from Europe. Lamaze, from Montreal, and Hickstead won Olympic gold in individual show jumping and silver in the team event in 2008. Lamaze has faith Spruce Meadows will keep his prized horse safe.

"We just arrived and I'm not too sure about what's going on in this part of the world," Lamaze said. "There are a lot of horses here, so it can't be that bad. If I was the only one here it would be different."

While equine herpes is not new to the horse community, this particular strain is and can attack the nervous system.

"It looks like there is a more aggressive strain," said Dan French, the resident veterinarian at Spruce Meadows. "This unique neurogenic strain that has surfaced is one we have not got a good vaccine for."

He reiterated that western and show-jumping horses are separate communities, which will help keep the virus away from the horses at Spruce Meadows this week.

"We don't often get common trainers and groomers between the disciplines," French said. "That's to our advantage."

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