I just got off the phone with my vet clinic (for an unrelated matter thank goodness!) but they did say they were just informed that there is a confirmed case in our county, Deschutes. ugh…
Banuelos Ranch, Jacksboro, Texas and Almosta Ranch, Scottsdale, AZ (Al Dunnings Ranch) address the outbreak in Quarter Horse News - an interesting read …
http://quarterhorsenews.com/index.php/news/industry-news/10412-a-few-ehv-1-rumors-are-righted.html
[QUOTE=IntegritySporthorses;5617085]
The only response I got from the BO is that the new trainer told her about it.
It sounds like this is possibly mis-information and I wouldn’t worry too much until you hear something from an actual authority or a more reliable sourse.
I sure hope they are wrong.[/QUOTE]
I think I’m probably getting email updates from the same source; thanks for this clarification.
With the caveat that this reference to Pilot Point is still just RUMOR as far as we know, I just checked the Equine Express site and didn’t see any news or update regarding EVH-1 outbreak, which slightly surprised me. I’d think shippers would be one of the main points of lockdown, and they may well BE locked down. I’m sure they’re in contact with anyone who has a horse in transit, but it would be reassuring for them to post something about their response on their site, since any horses moving can potentially affect many more.
That article UnderTheBridge posted is very interesting, since it was written before this outbreak and suggests that nEVH-1 has been becoming more virulent in recent years. 
I received an email from the Masters of Foxhounds Association passing along a situation report from APHIS (USDA).
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/ehv/ehv_2010_sitrep_051911.pdf
This happened in Virginia a few years ago and it was a nightmare. I’m very sorry to see it rearing its ugly head again - the worst part was the rumors and misinformation all over the internet.
does anyone know if the Los Angeles case is the Temecula one that was mentioned earlier on this thread?
my barn is at laec this weekend and I’m supposed to go next week. we’ll see if that actually happens. what’s the incubation period on this puppy?
I’d say not. The CA Dept of Food/Ag listed the cases by county. Temecula is not in LA County so I doubt they would classify the confirmed case as being in LA County if the horse was in Temecula.
[quote=forward ride;5617413]what’s the incubation period on this puppy?
[/quote]
2-10 days.
Trainer decided not to go to the show next weekend, which I think is smart. It’s just not worth it for a little show.
Now I have to worry about shipping my horse back home for summer (4 hours south in CA). I have about a month before that happens, but it will certainly be interesting to see what happens in the meantime.
Got an email that the Mile High Horse Ranch derby 2-phase has been postponed.
CHP says shows are still on but they are going to be very flexible with add/scratch dates (and fees) so people can change their minds.
My horse is in transit currently, she was picked up in PA this morning, and my shipper called letting me know all of his other horses he was schedueld to haul west had cancelled on him due to this EHV issue. He asked if I wanted to cancel too, and we decided that since she was the only horse on the trailer, and was coming from a private farm with no outside exposure, he would get her headed west at least as far as his private farm in Iowa and lay her over there until this blows over. He is not offloading her tonight, and will drive hard tomorrow to reach their place to keep her from being exposed along the way. The biggest issue he is facing is that some of the states are requiring new paperwork and permits to enter the state from other states- which means she can not pass through these states as her paperwork would have to have come from the vet where she originated and there is no way they could reach these western states from PA in a 72 hour period, as required. So she will be hanging out on his private 40 acre ranch in a nice paddock for a week or 2 until they lift these travel restrictions, or she can be seen by a vet to issue her the new paperwork that will be required. The basic coggins, health cert, and brand inspection won’t cut it right now if your horse is coming from the east coast to the west coast. Not sure what the big shippers like Bob Hubbard, Nationwide, etc are doing… I posted on a horse transport forum asking what everyone was doing, and most people have had their hauls canceled for now…or are finding they have to postpone them do to the newly instated travel restrictions.
An event at Galway Downs in Temecula was cancelled, supposedly for lack of participants, but you’ve got to wonder whether that was influenced by the outbreak.
http://blogs.pe.com/news/digest/2011/05/temecula-horse-event-canceled.html
For Utah, channel 13 news just said that there are now 7 confirmed cases and they are located in Weber and Kane counties. (weber co = northern utah, Kane = Southern utah)
And the Utah Ag Dept’s 6 pm press release identified that the original 5 are in Utah County (next county south of Salt Lake County).
[QUOTE=Beverley;5617780]
And the Utah Ag Dept’s 6 pm press release identified that the original 5 are in Utah County (next county south of Salt Lake County).[/QUOTE]
Thanks Beverly, the Utah ag is probably more accurate. I wonder if channel 13 ( I know, fox news, so who really knows!) means 2 more cases, one in weber, one in Kane? That would be 7 total.
Oregon now has 3 confirmed cases. CDE Driver mentioned the latest. Counties:
Umatilla: show participant
Clackamas: not show participant. traveled with
Deschutes: show participant
http://oregonvma.org/resources/confirmed-ehm-case-oregon
One big boarding facility turned the shavings guy away because he goes to many many farms all day long. This is also my shavings guy and we need shavings. Someone said spray tires with bleach solution before driving in?
Big haulers like Hubbard and Nationwide are probably unloiading at terminals if the horses can’t pass through without new paperwork. The problem is, the haulers are going to be the big spreaders of this virus
Yes, the press release did say 7 total. And Thursday’s update had said there were more possible cases at the one facility now stated as being in Utah County- just not yet confirmed. It also specified that only two of those five confirmed had been in Ogden.
We Pony Express riders were supposed to help unfurl a huge flag at the Eagle Mountain rodeo next weekend, practice had been slated for this morning. I’m now told we’ll be unfurling the flag on foot at the rodeo!
[QUOTE=LovelyBay;5616937]
The stupid news out of Spokane just posted a story with the headline “3Confirmed Cases of Deadly Horse Virus in Pullman”. I don’t this is true (well I’m praying it’s not), but I really dislike how the news stations about putting out stories that aren’t accurate and freaking me out!
ETA: It’s true. Two more confirmed cases @ WSU VTH. So that’s three total.
http://wsunews.wsu.edu/pages/publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=26258&TypeID=25[/QUOTE]
Amazing how the news gets it wrong, most of the time.
FOX News TV had a story on it as well and certainly keeping it in the headlines is a good thing. But I just wish the facts were correct so we know what is really happening.
[QUOTE=laskiblue;5617717]
An event at Galway Downs in Temecula was cancelled, supposedly for lack of participants, but you’ve got to wonder whether that was influenced by the outbreak.
http://blogs.pe.com/news/digest/2011/05/temecula-horse-event-canceled.html[/QUOTE]
This event was not cancelled.
The results: http://eventingscores.com/eventsr/galway/ht0511
So I was just reading that one of the horse’s in Alberta that has EVA-1, was only in contact with the Ogden horses BEFORE they went to Ogden, not after…not that it matters I suppose, but wouldn’t that indicate that this may be the horse that initiated the outbreak?
Here’s a summary of the press conference that Pilchuck Vet in Snohomish, WA held yesterday (reposted from their Facebook page).
Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital EHV-1 Press Conference Summary
Friday, May 20, 2011
Comments by Wendy Harless Mollat, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, Equine Internist, Critical Care and Neonatology Specialist
We’re here today to provide updated information on the latest outbreak of Equine Herpes virus 1 (EHV-1).
EHV-1 is widespread within the equine population. Veterinarians have been dealing with EHV-1 outbreaks similar to the current one since 2003. Pilchuck treated another EHV-1 positive case in their isolation facility three years ago.
Most horses are infected with this virus by the time they are 2 years old. Just like in humans, the herpes virus remains dormant in nerve terminals. Stress can cause the herpes virus in humans to reactivate, showing up as cold sores. Horses under stress – such as those traveling across the country for shows – also can have their virus reactivated.
EHV-1 has always been known to have the ability to cause neurological disease, but rarely caused outbreaks. In 2003, a genetic mutation of EHV-1 was identified in a large neurological disease outbreak in Ohio. This newer strain causes more severe neurological signs than the original varient.
All horse breeds can contract EHV-1. There is no risk to humans. Alpacas and llamas may contract EHV-1, however.
Statistics as of May 20, 2011
Note: We are able to get a good idea of which horses have been exposed due to the requirement of horse health certificates to cross state lines. The AAEP and USDA are closely monitoring EHV-1 reports (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/ehv/).
308 horses were exposed at the National Cutting Horse Association Western National Championship in Ogden, Utah, held April 29-May 8.689 horses were exposed to the Utah horses once they traveled back to their home barns.Of these horses, 21 cases of EHV-1 have been confirmed, either by blood test or nasal swab test. Only 12 of these cases developed neurological signs of the virus.Seven horses have died.Nationally, 174 barns and facilities are under voluntary quarantine.There are five confirmed EHV-1-positive cases in Washington state. One of these cases is at Pilchuck under quarantine in its isolation facility.Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital remains open for regular and emergency business.
People who have horses that have been exposed should know due to the quarantines (no horses in or out of a facility).
Horses who aren’t in the exposed population have a very low risk of contracting EHV-1. The risk is never zero, however. Trail rides, etc. for horses that haven’t been exposed carry a very low risk.
For those horses that were not at the Ogden show or that did not come into contact with horses at the Ogden show, there is no more risk of EHV-1 than there was before the outbreak.
If you suspect exposure, take your horse’s temperature rectally twice a day for 21 days from the time of exposure. If the temperature is over 102 degrees F, please contact a veterinarian immediately. A fever also generally precedes the development of clinical/neurological signs.
Update on Pilchuck Patient
The Pilchuck patient is doing pretty well. We were able to start the horse on antivirals early and he is responding, although he has a way to go. He will be released once he stops shedding the virus and the state’s veterinarian says he can go home.
Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital remains open for elective and emergency equine cases. (Due to Pilchuck’s protocols, the horse would have immediately gone into quarantine even without the EHV-1 warnings, given its presenting symptoms.) No other horses have been exposed at PVH.
Biosecurity
During this outbreak and at all other times, we recommend good biosecurity.
Although we don’t know exactly how long the virus lives outside a host, EHV-1 can be killed pretty easily.
Basic recommendations include not sharing any equipment among horses without first cleaning and disinfecting (1:10 bleach). Most disinfectants do not work in the face of organic debris (dirt, manure, etc.), so the cleaning step is critical.
Focus especially on items that come into contact with horses’ noses and mouths, as the virus is shed via nasal secretions: water buckets, bits, etc.
Once this outbreak is over, there will be others in the future, whether two months or two years from now. Good biosecurity will help to prevent and/or mitigate the risk.
Inquiries or More Information
Charlotte Graeber, charlotte@charlotte-works.com, 415-351-8675
Regular updates posted to the PVH Facebook page
Made me feel better about my decision to go ahead and get my two geldings out for a trail ride in the sun yesterday afternoon even though her statement (in red) is perhaps a bit naive. I keep my two at home - we loaded up, went to the trail head, kept far enough away from all the other horses to avoid touching or contact, had our ride, and came right home.
I’m planning to attend their informational meeting on Monday night as I’d like to be able to have an intelligent conversation with my trainer’s BO about whether or not I can start hauling for lessons again next week (they’re on voluntary lock in/out right now).
