Just thought Id pass this on as I saw a notice on FB ( there is a short thread on off-course about this too) Several horses have died, mutant strain, virus lasts 21 days on objects including trailers ( esp. important for shipping etc). Outbreak is spreading. I have not privy to anymore knowledge but I thought I would start the thread for those in the know to post more information.
Here’s what I have heard:
There was a cutting in Bakersfield, CA that a couple horses that had been at the show in Utah. One horse died that day, and two more have since been diagnosed (I think I heard that they died) from that show. There have now been confirmed cases in Rancho Murieta and Santa Rosa (both are somewhat close to me, but I know for a fact of horses that were at the Bakersfield show in my county that are being quarantines by their owners. It spreads like wildfire. I am taking temps on my horses daily. The first sign is a fever. I have my property on lockdown. No horses in or out. No visitors and footbaths and changes of clothes. Overkill? Yeah probably. Worth the risk? Not to me.
No vaccine protects against this strain!!! I’ve been getting tons of emails and it sounds like the best bet is STAY HOME.
That’s what I know from my neck of the woods.
ETA- Take it with a grain of salt, but that’s what I’ve heard several times now from a couple different reliable sources.
This topic came up at my vet clinic just this morning as I was there to pick up vaccines.
Here are excerpts from Idaho Equine Hospital Infectious Outbreak Blog:
EHV is not particularly resistant in the regular environment, in other words, it has a lower survival threshold outside of a warm equine body. While it can live up to 30 days in IDEAL and perfect conditions on objects, more than likely it cannot survive in most field conditions for more than a week.
It is easy to kill this virus - most hand sanitizers, bleach (1:10 dilution), chlorhexidine, and betadine all readily kill this virus. A note about bleach - it becomes inactivated by organic material, i.e. dirt globs, manure blobs, etc, so if you’re using bleach to sanitize stalls or horse trailers, all the dirt and manure must be washed off first.
So, don’t panic. Just stay clear of traveling horses. If your horse is travelling, sanitize your trailer and all equipment daily, and keep your horse away from other horses by at least 50 feet and don’t touch anyone else’s horse or share buckets/equipment.
You can only transmit EHV by object to horse and direct horse to horse contact. Objects could include buckets, your clothing, stall cleaning equipment. There is nothing in the literature that states it is transmitted by bugs. Horse separation by 50 feet and standard sanitary precautions.
EHV does not affect humans or other species such as dogs, cats, pigs, sheep, goats, cattle… The only other species, besides equids, that it can infect are camelids (camels, llama, alpacas).
Word to the wise - vaccinate your horses.
This is the e-mail I received from Paton, Martin and Cruz Vet services in Langley, BC today:
[B]Herpes virus outbreak – EHV1 Ogden, Utah
First of all, there is no need to panic but we must be careful. We are monitoring the situation closely and are in contact with veterinarians in the area and the USA.
There has been an outbreak of a neurological form of Herpes virus disease referred to as EHV 1. The outbreak is associated with horses that attended the recent Cutting Horse championship in OGDEN, Utah. This is a similar virus but different strain of what we refer to as “Rhino”. We vaccinate against the respiratory and abortion form. These vaccines do not protect against the neurological form. No vaccine in the market claims that is effective against the neurological form of the disease.
Despite rumors to the contrary, following conversations with veterinary colleagues in the Province, it appears that the affected horses have been identified and are confined and quarantined in a single private stable in the Okanagan Valley. TO OUR KNOWLEDGE THERE ARE NO CASES IDENTIFIED SO FAR (May 16, 2011) IN THE FRASER VALLEY. The only horse in the Fraser Valley that was at Ogden, Utah is 9 days post-exposure and is showing no clinical signs.
For additional general information please follow this link:
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/equine_herpes_virus.html
[/B]
Here’s the link for the Idaho Equine Hospital blog for more information too. I think the link was posted on another forum, but won’t hurt to add it here:
http://www.idahoequinehospital.com/blog/
And also this from the USDA - this virus has been tracked as an emerging disease since 2007.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergingissues/downloads/ehv1final.pdf
And apparently there is 1 confirmed case in Alberta plus 1 sick horse they are treating as suspicious. Per Moore and Company, Calgary, Alberta.
Got this in an email forward today – allegedly from a Colorado vet [won’t share his name, in case this didn’t come from him]:
“This is all true. I have already called many stables. This is an emerging disease, (possibly more virulent DNA). It is a biosecurity risk and much is still confidential. I was unfortunately the first vet in the US, by chance only, to diagnose this outbreak. I have state vets, control people, university people, Canadian vets and more all over my cell phone. Preventative measures, should a horse have a fever after direct exposure to an infected horse, came from me through multiple peers and are now being shared with all of the cutting association through texts, social media etc. So far more than 10 horses are involved in just Colorado. I am warning stables to not allow cutting horses or QT horses to come into their stables unless they talk to me first. Shows are not yet restricted but I myself would not travel for a few weeks. The Virus does not live long in nature, away from the horse so things will be safe 30 days after the last case. Dr. Roehr, the state vet is the source of the information that you sent below. I will try to get local news paper information in a few days. So far, I am only calling stables that take in boarders. There is no quarantine yet for travel and horse shows. Stables with EHV-1 are quarantined for 30 days. All stables have horses that carry EHV-1 and occasionally stress causes a mild upper respiratory outbreak. There have been small outbreaks of the new, possible mutant strain for several years and that is what was believed to kill half of the Lipizzaners years ago. This is likely the first outbreak that has started at a national championship show and has traveled to many states and at least Canada internationally.”
"There have been small outbreaks of the new, possible mutant strain for several years and that is what was believed to kill half of the Lipizzaners years ago. "
When was this? So from what I am gathering the common vaccines are not effective? Am I understanding that right? Cant help it… when statements start off “theres not need to panic” I usually start to.
Way to freak me out. There is a sickness going around my ponies stable right now that has some pretty horrible stuff coming out of her nose (she is in Sonoma County). Yet another thing to worry about.
To add to the info, this post from the Oregon State veterinarian:
http://www.oregondressage.com/news/2011/take-precautions-with-equine-herpes-virus-1-rhino-current-outbreak-information/
[QUOTE=Indy-lou;5610417]
To add to the info, this post from the Oregon State veterinarian:
http://www.oregondressage.com/news/2011/take-precautions-with-equine-herpes-virus-1-rhino-current-outbreak-information/[/QUOTE]
Thank you!!! Very scary stuff…
Scary stuff. There has been one confirmed case in Alberta, one suspected and awaiting confirmation…apparently cutting horses that were at that show in Utah. We were supposed to take our mare tommorow to be bred (the repro vet shows and breeds cutting horses and horses for that industry) but forget that. Might have to pick a fresh stallions for this year…
The problem is that I don’t think many realize the nature of this disease and how virulent it is…
I was at the University of Findlay when we had the outbreak of neurologic EHV-1. There is no vaccine for it because it is a mutated form of EHV-1… son not only will this cause snotty noses, fevers and abortions, but it is a hard one to fight, and VERY contagious. It literally flew through our barn of about 100 horses. We lost quite a few, including a pregnant broodmare.
[QUOTE=MDHorseGirl;5610501]
I was at the University of Findlay when we had the outbreak of neurologic EHV-1. There is no vaccine for it because it is a mutated form of EHV-1… son not only will this cause snotty noses, fevers and abortions, but it is a hard one to fight, and VERY contagious. It literally flew through our barn of about 100 horses. We lost quite a few, including a pregnant broodmare.[/QUOTE]
Is this the same outbreak that is referred to above with the Lippzans? What year was this?
What are the list of precautions? Signs?
Obviously close your borders…ensure vet/farrier change clothes etc? What about items that may have come in contact ( I keep thinking of shipping horses) Bleach? Lysol?
It is easy to kill this virus - most hand sanitizers, bleach (1:10 dilution), chlorhexidine, and betadine all readily kill this virus. A note about bleach - it becomes inactivated by organic material, i.e. dirt globs, manure blobs, etc, so if you’re using bleach to sanitize stalls or horse trailers, all the dirt and manure must be washed off first.
the neuro form of EHV-1 is not “new news”. For the last 5 years there have been periodic outbreaks all over the US. THe most recent was in NJ just 1 month ago. The two farms quarantined in NJ just had their restrictions lifted.
Racetrack barns and training centers are routinely shut down becuase of the deadly strain.
The best source for accurate information is The Horse:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18253
No, it’s not new news. This disease has been tracked since at least 2007. The difference with it this time, AHF, is that this is not confined to a single barn. This has spread to multiple states and has also spread to 2 provinces in Canada and a rather significant number of horses have been lost or put down.
Colorado
3 cases in GJ, 1 in Loma, 1 in Rifle and 1 in Eagle
CSU equine clinic has closed
[QUOTE=Molly Malone;5611115]
Colorado
3 cases in GJ, 1 in Loma, 1 in Rifle and 1 in Eagle
CSU equine clinic has closed[/QUOTE]
From this outbreak? Or a previous one?
From this one
Scary stuff spreads like wildfire
California- The CA Dept. of AG was able to confirm that as of 9 am. this morning they have ten positive horses. Information to date suggests they were all at the Utah event.
Rancho Murieta is on lockdown, but they do not have any cases per their website… http://www.murietaequinecomplex.com/
An Alert to all Murieta Equestrian Center Exhibitors
While NO Horses at the Murieta Equestrian Center have shown clinical signs of the Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 (EHV-1), this disease has been recently reported and/or indicated in six western states and Canada. We feel it’s absolutely necessary and our responsibility to the equestrian community to be proactive in our effort to contain this highly contagious disease. Therefore, NO horses will be accepted onto our facility beginning today May 16th until June 7th (21 days) or until further notified.
We have been advised by our veterinary staff by keeping horses at home during this period will reduce the spread of EHV-1.
We regret the inconvenience and hardship this may cause and will work with the affected associations and event managers to reschedule events as soon as possible.
I know the vet in Plymouth had a case, and many other shows/ranches are closing as a precaution.
Saw online earlier that 6 more horses in Colorado have been diagnosed.
However, the state’s agriculture department confirmed today that six additional exposed horses are showing clinical signs of EVH-1.
Currently, horses in four counties - Boulder, Larimer, Mesa, and Weld - are being investigated for the disease and are under hold or quarantine orders. One horse which tested positive for EHV-1 was euthanized after showing severe neurological signs associated with the disease.
Found on Loomis Basin Equine Facebook Page - posted yesterday
“Several Northern California horses were confirmed positive for Equine Herpes virus today by the UC Davis PCR laboratory; two of these are Placer County horses. Please be especially vigilant for the next several weeks if you do travel with your horse.”
This website is tracking cases, but has been overloaded and keeps crashng.
http://www.equinechronicle.com/breaking-news/latest-show-cancellations-and-individual-state-information-for-ehv-1-outbreak.html
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2011/05/130.shtml?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4dd1fe89f4acf022%2C0
