Multiple Western States Concerned About EHV-1 Outbreak
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Veterinarians in several western states are determining the extent of a possible equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak tied to cutting horses participating in a recent Odgen, Utah, championship show. Several horses that participated in the April 29-May 8, 2011, National Cutting Horse Association’s Western National Championship were diagnosed with the illness and at least two horses were euthanized when their conditions deteriorated.
Washington State University officials placed the school’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital under voluntary quarantine effective May 13, 2011, after a horse admitted on May 11, 2011, for an orthopedic problem tested positive for the virus. The owner confirmed this horse had participated in the show in Ogden, Utah. No other EHV-1 positive horses have been identified at the Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture issued a statement on May 13, 2011, indicating two farms in Weld County, Colorado, were placed under quarantine. One horse was euthanized and another quarantined. Both horses had recently participated in the Western National Championship before becoming ill.
The National Cutting Horse Association has cancelled two competitions scheduled for May 14-28, 2011, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a precautionary measure. A statement issued by the Association indicated that while no horses in the Tulsa area had displayed any signs of EHV-1, the NCHA board elected to cancel the show until the extent of the outbreak has been determined.
Watch for continuing updates on the EHV-1 outbreak here at SaddleHorseReport.com.
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