Concerns about mounting numbers of cases of Equine Herpes Virus-1 are being voiced by horse owners in Orange and Riverside Counties in Southern California. With many stables and large equestrian centers in the area, the fear that the contagious disease may spread is prevalent among horse owners who fear not only the disease, but additional quarantines as new cases are confirmed.
Highly contagious nature of Equine Herpes Virus-1
New cases of Equine Herpes Virus cause concern for equestrians.
The disease is highly infectious with transmission occurring by inhaling infected droplets or ingesting material contaminated by nasal discharges including horse to horse transmission as well as contact with contaminated surroundings or equipment.
A new case of the virus was discovered at the Empire Polo Club in Indio this past Tuesday and the horse was euthanized. In San Juan Capistrano, 16 cases of the disease have been confirmed since January 11, and one horse has been euthanized.
Many horse owners compete in shows and national competitions. If new quarantines are imposed, competitors would not be able to travel with their horses to events that are an important part of life in the equestrian community. Circumstance could be similar to cases in 2011 when the disease was spread nationally by horses competing in a cutting event in Ogden, Utah.