BREAKING: Michigan horses were potentially exposed to EHV-1, MDARD says
The state confirmed on Tuesday, Dec. 2 that some horses in Michigan had potentially been exposed to EHV-1 in Oklahoma, but said the state has not been notified of any EHV-1 positive horses in Michigan to date.
LANSING — State veterinarian, Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM, issued an alert Tuesday morning about the ongoing nationwide equine herpesvirus-1 outbreak.
It's been two weeks since news first began circulating about an outbreak linked with the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Finals and Elite Barrel Race in Waco, Texas, which was followed closely by another event in Oklahoma, the Barrel Futurities of America (BFA) World Championship. The second event was attended by some of the same horses that were in Texas.
Some horses from Michigan were at the second event in Oklahoma, the Michigan Department of Agriculture said Tuesday in a press release.
"MDARD was alerted to Michigan horses potentially exposed to the disease (i.e., horses attending the BFA World Championships), and the department has contacted all the owners of these animals. MDARD verified the horses attended BFA and are currently in Michigan, determined the health status of the horses, and ensured the owners were aware of the outbreak and were taking appropriate measures, such as isolating the animals for a minimum of 14 days and monitoring them for signs of EHV-1. To the best of MDARD’s knowledge, all Michigan horses attending the event are being isolated and monitored for signs of EHV-1. No cases of EHV-1 involving Michigan horses have been reported to MDARD to date," the press release states.
EHV-1 is a highly contagious virus that is considered latent in much of the horse population. It's believed that horses with a latent infection can become symptomatic following stress or travel. Typically, EHV-1 is a respiratory infection, but it can manifest as a neurological disease with significant fatalities. EHV-1 is also known to cause abortions, sometimes devastating breeding programs during so-called "abortion storms" when the virus spreads amongst pregnant mares.
Clinical signs of EHV-1 can vary widely and may include: fever; nasal discharge, coughing, or other respiratory changes; depression or lethargy; stumbling or incoordination, loss of tail tone, hind-limb weakness, head tilt, being down with an inability to rise, or other neurological signs; and/or abortions in pregnant mares.
The EHV-1 virus spreads quickly and efficiently, making early precautions essential. Horses can transmit the virus directly through simple nose-to-nose contact, and infected animals may also release contagious aerosolized particles when they cough or sneeze. Indirect transmission is equally dangerous, as shared tack, grooming tools, water and feed buckets, thermometers, and other equipment can all carry the virus from one horse to another. Even humans can unintentionally act as mechanical carriers, spreading the virus on their hands, clothing, or boots.
To protect your horses and the broader Michigan equine community, the MDARD’s Office of the State Veterinarian recommends the following immediate steps:
1. Isolate any horse that attended the Waco event and/or traveled to the Guthrie area for at least 14 days from other equids (horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, etc.), or until cleared by a veterinarian.
2. Avoid taking exposed horses to other barns or events.
3. Clean and disinfect trailers, wash-racks, cross-ties, tie-areas, tack rooms, buckets, grooming tools, and any shared equipment. Use an appropriate virucidal disinfectant.
4. Clean and disinfect trailers, wash-racks, cross-ties, tie-areas, tack rooms, buckets, grooming tools, and any shared equipment. Use an appropriate virucidal disinfectant.
5. Avoid sharing tack, halters, grooming equipment, buckets, water hoses, etc., between exposed and unexposed horses.
6. Monitor temperatures twice daily for all exposed horses and report any fever (greater than 101.5°F) or other signs of illness to a veterinarian immediately.
7. If any horse exhibits neurologic signs, coughing, or nasal discharge, isolate it immediately, wear protective gear, and call your veterinarian.
8. Keep accurate records: track which horses were present at events, their movement, and who handled them for contact tracing, if needed.
9. Stay in contact with your veterinarian and keep up to date on notifications from state veterinary authorities.
10. Report any suspected or confirmed cases of EHV-1 to MDARD by calling 800-292-3939 as soon as possible.
