The anniversary of the EHV-1 outbreak of 2011 is approaching and horse owners need to know about the disease, its risks, and the biosecurity necessary to keep horses from contracting this deadly disease.
Although many horse owners comfort themselves with:
- “Won’t happen to my horse.”
- “I haven’t taken my horse anywhere; he’ll be fine.”
- “That disease hasn’t been in our area.”
If you hink your horse is immune to the threat of infectious equine diseases because of a protected lifestyle - You might want to think again.
Horse disease threat alert
Horse owners need to know about deadly diseases, the risks, and the biosecurity necessary to keep horses from contracting deadly diseases.
In late April 2011, horses attending an equine event in Ogden, Utah, were exposed to Equine herpsevirus type 1(EHV-1). Just three months later, when the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS)declared the outbreak contained, more than 2,000 horses had been exposed.1 Of those, 90 tested positive for the virus or its neurologic form, Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM).1 Ultimately, 13 horses died or were euthanized.1
Just over half of the 90 horses1 were actually participating at the Ogden event, demonstrating the highly contagious nature of EHV-1 and its ability to spread quickly. The remaining 36 horses contracted the virus due to secondary or tertiary exposure. Cases were confirmed in 10 states, stretching from Oklahoma to California.1
In January 2012, 17 cases of EHV-1 were confirmed in California.2 “EHV-1 is so easily spread that it can affect a number of horses before owners even realize there is a problem and are able to take containment measures,” says April Knudson, DVM, equine specialist, Merial Veterinary Services. “The disease can spread from horse-to-horse contact, but also by horses touching objects contaminated with the virus, including clothing, human hands, equipment, rags, feed/water buckets and tack,” she adds.
Clinical signs of EHV-1 include fever, lethargy, anorexia, nasal discharge and cough.3 If the virus has advanced to the neurologic stage, lack of coordination, hindquarter weakness, recumbency and urine dribbling may occur.3
Equine influenza is another highly contagious disease. It can compromise a horse’s respiratory tract and spread quickly through a herd.4 Clinical signs can include high fever, nasal discharge, dry cough, depression, anorexia and weakness.5
“To guard against both communicable diseases such as these and others that spread by insects or even other animals, the most important things horse owners can do are vaccinate and be aware of disease threats,” says Dr. Knudson.
“With competition season getting underway, many people will be traveling, possibly into areas where the risk of equine disease has been identified. Merial’s free Outbreak Alert program is a great way to help horse owners and veterinary practices stay informed.”
Launched in 2011, Outbreak Alert tracks and reports confirmed cases of EHV, Equine influenza, West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, Western Equine Encephalomyelitis and Potomac Horse Fever and rabies. Since its inception, thousands of horse owners and veterinarians have received timely information by text or e-mail about disease threats.
The site also includes maps that show confirmed reports of disease throughout the country, educational resources for veterinarians to use in their practices and information about common equine diseases. To sign up for the program, go to http://www.outbreak-alert.com
Note: This news article is an edited press release by ®MERIAL and RECOMBITEK
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