Equine Herpevirus Hits Nationwide

The Equine Herpes Virus strikes fear in the heart of every horse owner. Unlike other forms of Rhino viruses - there is no specific vaccine for EVH-1 and the treatment for sick horses is supportive. While the most horse owners associate the Rhino virus with respiratory symptoms, the EVH-1 strain is know to cause neurological symptoms. Many veterinarians feel that giving the vaccine for the respiratory version of the Rhino virus may lesson the symptoms and severity of the disease; but this has not been proven.

What many horse owners do not realize - is that this virus appears every year during horse show season without fail.

While all horse owners (and especially horse owners that show their horses) need to be careful and cautious, panicking not a solution. Stay calm and educate yourself on ways to keep your horse safe.

Some states such as Colorado, are enforcing quarantines.. The Colorado State Agricultural website states they have "6 confirmed cases of horses with EVH-1." They also have 14 more suspected cases and have issued quarantines in four counties.

Horse owners should take proactive steps to keep their horses from getting the EVH-1 virus by taking the following steps:

1. Disinfect all horse show stalls before putting your horse in the stall. Use a disinfectant such as Nalvasan that will work on dirt and natural materials. Bleach can be rendered inactive for disinfecting when it touches organic matter such as dirt or manure.

2. Keep your horse from making nose to nose with other horses.

3. Discourage people from petting your horse at horse shows. Most people will go down an entire row of stalls at a horse show, and pet each horse on the nose. This is a prime example of how an illness can spread. Block your stalls off with a string with a sign asking the public to not your pet your horses or enter your isle way.

4. Keep your horse up to date on vaccinations.

5. Never take sick horses to a show.

6. When arriving home from a horse show - keep your show horses quarantined from your breeding herd whenever possible.

Call your local veterinarian or your Agricultural office for your specific state for updates in your area. If you are planning on attending a horse show; call the show manager to verify that the show has not been canceled.

Herpes (EHV) Myeloencephalopathy: A Guide to Understanding the Neurologic Form of EHV Infection