EHV1 outbreak information

[horsepoor]

Capital Press ran an article this morning on the virus (http://www.capitalpress.com/newsletter/se-horse-virus-update-052711 - might need to be a subscriber to access it) and it says “Washington has had six positive cases but no deaths. Oregon has had four confirmed cases and one horse in that state that developed severe neurological symptoms was euthanized.” The WA number matches what I see at the WSDA site, but Oregon VMA still shows just 3 cases and no deaths, so not sure about the 4th one Capital Press reports. Anyone know where that one was, or is it a reporting error?

ETA - see later post as Oregon VMA has now updated info to reflect 4 positives, including 1 euthanized.

[Janet]

They talked about it on NPR this morning.

[Beverley]

Update for Utah as of 6 pm last night:

http://ag.utah.gov/news/EquineHerpesOutbreak05232011.html

Also a notice on their web site that Wyoming now requires a health certificate within 72 hours of entering the state.

And here’s a link to the NPR story:

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/24/136508001/horse-killing-virus-brings-fear-to-western-u-s

I also heard a radio report giving euthanasias and total cases in California, but don’t see any related press releases on the issue so in the interest trying to post only accurate info I won’t post it here til I have time to check it out.

[horsepoor]

Oregon VMA updated its page to show there have been 4 in the state, and one was euthanized this weekend (in Clackamas County – not the same as the first one in Clackamas County reported earlier in the week). The newest one had attended the Ogden show.

http://oregonvma.org/resources/confirmed-ehm-case-oregon

[TheresanAppfurthat]

Horsepoor you beat me to it. I called the Oregon State Vet and talked to Raina when I saw the update on the website - wanted to know if it was firsthand or secondary exposure. She checked and found it was indeed one of the show attendees and further that that entire barn is on lockdown.

Unpleasantly surprised to learn that OHSET competition went forward last weekend in Bend. Just think how those kids and their bill-paying parents would feel if some of those horses got sick.

IMO, you just can’t be too careful. I remember the last two rounds of this and some of the other really bad highly communicable diseases such as strangles and dryland distemper. Ugh.

[JoZ]

I find this odd in the Oregon VMA update you published, horsepoor:

“The second confirmed Oregon case of EHV-1 was in a horse from Umatilla County that did not attend the cutting horse show in Utah, but traveled some hours in the same trailer with two horses that were returning from the show. Those two horses tested negative.”

So the horses from the show tested negative but they apparently transmitted it to the horse they were in the trailer with? Does anyone have a hypothesis on that?

Also – in a couple of weeks I will be transporting a horse from WA to OR. We have assessed the risks on either end but don’t know what to expect crossing the border. I’ve only heard about horses coming INTO Washington.

[Dazednconfused]

Have not been able to make it through this entire thread so far. Any cliffnotes as to the situation in CA? Trying to make some educated decisions…

TIA.

[DiscoMom]

JoZ (and other), I received an e-mail today (it was forwarded to me, but originally written by the owner of euth’d horse in Oregon). The horse had been at the Ogden show and then left the show and went to trainer’s barn in Oregon (along with another horse that also attended the show). Horses were tested when the outbreak was discovered and both came back NEGATIVE. Temps were taken several times a day for a couple of days (not just those two, but the other horses in the barn as well). By Wednesday no one had a fever. Checks on Thursday and Friday morning also showed no fever. 1-2 hours after the Friday temp. check, one of the horses was “in full swing with the neuro part of the EHV1” (that quote is directly from owner’s e-mail). The horse was given a sedative when the vet came out. Had a reaction and was subsequently put down. The owner said Oregon state officials came and took brain tissue samples to hopefully gain a better understanding of the virus. The owner also indicated in her e-mail that four horses that tested negative have had to be put down (not sure where that information came from or which states the horses were in, but it was included in the e-mail).

Anyway, I just wanted to pass that along (again, it was an e-mail that was forwarded to me so not my first-hand knowledge). I thought it was interesting and very sad. The barn appeared to be doing everything correctly once the outbreak was discovered. They had horses tested, disinfected everything, were changing clothes, locked the barn down, etc. The tests came back negative, they continued to monitor every horse, but it still took one of theirs.

[TheresanAppfurthat]

JoZ part of the problem is a long incubation period where horses can be asymptomatic yet transmit; also, the pathogen can be carried on clothing, boots, hands, kissy faces, tack, bedding, hay, rubber mats - this is a really, really successful mutated pathogen.

In short, aliens live among us and not all of them are humans.

[system]

States?

Can anyone list the states that have confirmed cases? Thanks!

[canyonoak]

<< Any cliffnotes as to the situation in CA? Trying to make some educated decisions…>>

Best update info for CA:

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/equine_herpes_virus.html

[jenm]

[QUOTE=Dazednconfused;5623560]
Have not been able to make it through this entire thread so far. Any cliffnotes as to the situation in CA? Trying to make some educated decisions…

TIA.[/QUOTE]

Also, UC Davis is advising against “unnecessary” travel.

Sadly, some people seem to think going to a horse show is necessary travel. Depending on where you are thinking of going, many responsible barns are also on voluntary lock down, at least here in NorCal.

[nature]

Lots of horses in a confined area…just saying…

OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND FORESTRY

2800 North Lincoln Boulevard Oklahoma City OK 73105-4298

May 24, 2011

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Blayne Arthur (405) 401-3718

“Horse Shows Will Go On”

OKLAHOMA CITY , OK- The Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association Redbud Spectacular, is slated to begin May 31, 2011 at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City , OK where they are expecting over 800 horses for a 12 day period. The Expo Square facility in Tulsa is also getting geared up for the Pinto World Championship Show June 7-18, 2011 and looking to host over 1200 horses representing over 35 states. Many horse owners are aware of the recent cases of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) that have occurred in several states after the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western Nationals in Ogden , UT. Several of these owners are taking additional precautionary steps before heading down the road to compete.

Horse owners should be cognizant of the situation but also be aware of the facts regarding the virus. The EHV outbreak has only affected horses attending two events and horses directly exposed to that group upon returning home. The two events are the NCHA Western National Championship in Utah and the Kern County Cutting Horse Event in California . Affected and exposed horses in all states are under state quarantine or movement restrictions.

Acting State Veterinarian, Dr. Michael Herrin recommends horse owners and event managers remain at a heightened level of awareness, consider the current facts of the situation, and make an informed decision based upon actual risk. Events in Oklahoma 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 (ODAFF).

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry encourages horse owners to implement and practice proper preventative measures. ODAFF also encourages horse owners to consult their local veterinarian for review and advice on an appropriate vaccination schedules for EHV.

[nature]

Texas is starting to release previously confined horses…

http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/

Equine Health
Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) Update May 24, 2011: The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has no “confirmed” or “suspect” cases of the neurologic form of EHV-1 to report today. As a reminder, the TAHC is following USDA guidelines for reporting “confirmed” and “suspect” cases.

TAHC officials have started releasing primary traced horses and their cohorts (stablemates) that attended the Ogden, Utah, NCHA event.

Currently 18 known horses in Texas that attended the event and 189 cohorts (stablemates) remain under movement restrictions.

TAHC and Texas veterinarians continue to investigate new situations statewide where horses are displaying symptoms consistent with that of the neurologic form of EHV-1.
The TAHC will post another Texas EHV-1 update tomorrow, Wednesday, May 25 at 5:30 p.m. A national report from USDA will be available Thursday afternoon.

[kewpalace]

@jenm;5624173

Also, UC Davis is advising against “unnecessary” travel.

They seem to have changed their tune … http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whatsnew/article.cfm?id=2397

So they are now recommending that horses who attended the Utah cutting & horses exposed to horses who attended the Utah cutting be banned from taking part of any shows in the next few weeks. Otherwise, it seems they are good to go for others to travel.

[nature]

It would be easier to just stay home…

[QUOTE=kewpalace;5624684]
They seem to have changed their tune … http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whatsnew/article.cfm?id=2397

So they are now recommending that horses who attended the Utah cutting & horses exposed to horses who attended the Utah cutting be banned from taking part of any shows in the next few weeks. Otherwise, it seems they are good to go for others to travel.[/QUOTE]

1. Event managers should create a short document for participants to sign upon arrival at the show grounds to confirm that their horses, mules, and burros attending the show/event have not attended or had prior contact with horses from the NCHA Championships in Ogden, Utah and/or the Kern County Cutting Event in Bakersfield, California, or been on the same premises with horses that have returned from these events. Horses that have attended, or been exposed to horses returning from either event will not be allowed to enter the show grounds.

2. Establish a “No Fever” policy for horses attending the event. Give the participants prior notice of the new “No Fever” policy before they arrive at the show grounds. Provide instructions for obtaining the horse’s temperature and an index card on which to record temperature readings for each horse.
   a. All horses will have temperatures taken twice daily and results will be posted on front of the stall/pen for inspection.
   b. Any horse will be subject to random temperature check by the show veterinarian or designated member of the veterinary staff during the event.
   c. Any horse with a fever of 102°F or greater will be removed from the event and premises immediately (i.e. within 2 hours of detection of fever).
   d. If the owner cannot move the horse off the premises, a professional horse hauler contracted by the event will remove the horse to a designated isolation area at the owner’s expense.

It is understood that some (most) horses with a fever will not have EHV-1; however, in the interest of conducting a safe event under the current circumstances, the “No Fever” policy will be enforced. If you do not wish to comply with these safety measures please do not attend the event.

---

[jenm]

I agree with you, nature. Unfortunately, many people still feel that they MUST attend the show/rodeo/event coming up this weekend and that those of us choosing to hunker down are “panicking”.

[Beverley]

No new cases in Utah for a few days now. Our barn may open up ‘a little’ as in trail rides and such but continuing to avoid large horse gatherings like shows. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

[LovelyBay]

A WA update

Apparently there is another new case @ WSU.
http://www.khq.com/story/14722535/wsu-veterinarians-confirm-third-inpatient-equine-herpes-virus-case

[SimpleSimon]

@LovelyBay;5626473

This article also mentions a case in Spokane, but I haven’t heard anything else about it.

The article is referencing Spokane County. There was a horse in Colbert that had symptoms (article is from May 20): http://m.spokesman.com/stories/2011/may/20/deadly-equine-virus-hits-washington/