With the discovery of new cases of strangles at the Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue, the self-imposed quarantine has been extended for approximately another thirty days. Strangles is a bacterial caused disease that is highly contagious.
Separating or quarantining a horse at the earliest signs of the disease is important because the disease is highly contagious and may be passed from one horse to another via nasal secretions and pus from ruptured abscesses in the lymph nodes. Horses remain contagious for approximately a month after having the disease. .
The Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue continues to be closed for all visits.
Management placed the facility under Quarantine as of July 5, 2011 when five horses on site tested positive for Equine Strangles.
Management stated, "For the safety of horses in our community no one will be permitted on the property other than our normal volunteers. All 33 horses onsite have been having temperatures taken twice a day and have been monitored closely."
According to sources, all horses will be tested and vaccinated once signs of the disease are no longer present.