An outbreak of equine herpes virus-1, a highly contagious airborne virus, has led to the death of at least seven horses in western states, Gale Holland of the Los Angeles Times reports. The horse Powered by Pep (right, with owner David Booth) became infected after an event at Bakersfield, Calif., but intravenous fluids and anti-inflammatory and anti-viral drugs appear to be helping him. (Times photo by Wally Skalij)Authorities believe the outbreak started in Ogden, Utah, sometime between April 18 and May 3 and has spread to California, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and four other Western states. "Colorado, which has reported 22 suspected cases and two euthanizings, is requiring health certifications for horses crossing its border," Holland writes. California has had a total of 18 reported cases. Seven of those where euthanized due to severe neurological signs. The survivors are under a state-ordered quarantine and care from private veterinarians, the California Department of Food and Agriculture told Holland.
Since 2000, there has been an increased fear of the EHV-1 strain of equine herpes, which "spreads from horse-to-horse contact — humans are not susceptible — and manifests along a spectrum ranging from cold-like symptoms and fever to hindquarter weakness, coordination dysfunction and finally collapse and paralysis," Holland writes. Horses may even carry the virus and show no symptoms and with no vaccine available, many events have been cancellation to prevent further spreading. (Read more)
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