From the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services/Division of Animal Industry December 27th Equine Herpes Virus type1 Status Report – Florida Nine cases of Equine Herpes Virus – type 1 (EHV-1) have been confirmed with laboratory testing from horses, seven in the Wellington area, one in Ocala, Florida and one in Indiantown, Florida. The Ocala horse shipped from south Florida and had a direct link to one of the horses shipped in from New York, on November 29th. Five deaths have been attributed to this disease, although only two of those cases could be confirmed by laboratory tests. The index or first case reported was a horse imported from Europe through the USDA New York Animal Import Center. State and Federal officials are working closely with veterinarians, owners, managers, and others in the affected equine industry to identify potentially exposed animals and suspect cases and to prevent further spread of the disease. There are ten quarantined premises, seven in the Wellington area, one in Ocala, Florida, one in Jupiter, Florida, and one in Indiantown, Florida. Eight premises with confirmed cases are under state quarantine and two premises with suspect neurologic cases are under state quarantine. Currently, there are not state or federal restrictions for horse movements into, within, or out of the state of Florida. Some premises and events have their own entry requirements. Industry representatives and state and federal officials have agreed on a number of steps to contain this outbreak. These include the identification of potentially exposed animals with appropriate monitoring and bio-security measures taken, isolation and treatment of suspected cases, and coordination of control efforts by industry and state and federal representatives. The close working relationship between cooperators, stakeholders, and the public is the key to limiting the spread of this disease. Although EHV-1 can be a serious disease of horses and the virus can spread through the air from respiratory infection, transmission generally requires direct or close contact between horses. Transmission can also occur through contaminated equipment, clothing, and hands. Horses with clinical signs should be isolated and kept 40 feet or more from other horses. Owners with sick horses should contact their private veterinarian to examine and treat their horses. Veterinarians suspecting EHV-1 with neurologic signs are advised to contact state officials and follow protocols for collecting and submitting appropriate samples for laboratory diagnosis. While herpes vaccines are available, none are specifically labeled for the neurologic form of EHV-1. Concerned owners should discuss whether vaccination of their animals is recommended, the type of vaccines available, and the frequency of recommended vaccination with their veterinarian. Vaccination in the face of an outbreak will probably not prevent infection but may lessen respiratory signs and reduce viral shedding with future exposure.

Jerry...thanks for the update...I travel a lot with the horses so all information helps me keep my horses safe as possible.

The barn in question has been tested, about 50 horses. The horse in question was from New Mexcio not Florida. The horse that was sick is better and has now tested negative for the cells. The two horses that also tested positive show no signs of the sickness at all and have now tested negative, seems they tested positive for about 3 days, No one knows why some horses get the full blown symptoms and some just blow it off. We are hoping the quarrentine will be lifted next week as no other horses have shown any signs of being sick. We stable about 2,200 horses at the three tracks in question and not 1 horse has been allowed to leave. All horses have this virus in their system, no one knows why some shed the cells and show no signs of illness no temp nothing and others get sick. It cant be stress alone as our horses are race horses and they stress everytime they race, it must be a combination of things.

The horse that was shipped to California was kept at a farm in Friendsville Tennessee for a couple of days and they are under a quarantine as well. I still can't believe this wasn't caught before the horses were released from quarantine... Am glad I no longer go to that barn!

jerry.. Any virus can , and does, mutate in humans all the time ...that's why the drug companies designed all the 'super antibotics' trying to keep up with mutation. ..it's scarry for sure. Be sure and let us know what the outcome of the blood test are.

horse contact, human contact to horse etc.. it can lay dormate in horses and you cant tell they are sick. We lost a few here in Florida as I had posted before . its that time of the season where horses are being shipped to shows, imported for show season, and alot of contacts and not strict quarentine. although it can lay dormate ,no signs of illness in some horses, but can make another one with low immunity very ill. a horse can get a well vet checkup and be transported but days later show signs of illness. then its to late by then . the horse has been in contact with other horses already or the shipping truck .

Ok so I am stable Supt at one of the tracks quarantened... The horse in question is one of 50 in a trainers barn, The horse ahs been in training since august. This trainer does not have a huge turnover of horses, and so far no other horses have shown any signs of being sick, They ar thinking a horse that shipped in from New Mexico may have been a carrier with no signs of the sickness. Or.....and this is where it gets wierd. This virus may mutate in certain horses. This horse may of gotten another virus and in it's system the virus mutated.. We should know more on Monday when the tests are back. They are testing every horse in this stable. It is transmitted horse to horse not airborn. The bad thing is horses chew on things, and we use hot walking machines and numerous horses use the same arm day in and day out....so.... we should know more by monday afternoon, in the mean time no horse leave the three barn areas for any other area.

Hi, California Golden Gate ractrack reported a horse from Golden Gate was diagnosed as positive for the neurogenic strain of EHV-1. Golden Gate Fields, Bay Meadows and Pleasanton were placed under quarantine Dec. 29 after the virus was discovered. 2,100 horses are in the quarentined tracks. It is not supposed to have been imported from Florida. Dr. Rick Arthur, the equine medical director, can’t find any cross relationship at all. Here is a link reported today in Bloodhorse. http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36882 rainsong

All the polo horses coming into Indio, California from Florida to play for the season are being stabled seperately and given the vac. They're just coming in now so not sure if they've had any outbreaks in Indio, Ca. I'm sure glad I'm not there this season with my horses !

http://thehorse.com