Texas Animal Health Commission officials are continuing to trace horses that attended the National Cutting Horse Association Western National Championships event, which was held from April 29-May 8 in Ogden, Utah.

Some horses that attended the event have reported positive diagnoses of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic form of EHV-1.

According the Associated Press, the virus has infected at least 34 horses in nine states and Canada, and killed at least seven horses.

Teff Sleeman of Washington is taking precautions with his horses after an outbreak the highly contagious disease called Equine Herpes Virus.
Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

More than 1,000 animals are known to have been exposed through direct or indirect contact with infected horses, which are among 400 that attended the Ogden event.

Humans unaffected

While the virus is highly contagious and potentially deadly in horses, it is not transmissible to humans.

There are 26 known horses in Texas that attended the event. Those 26 horses and 323 more stablemates of those 26 are under movement restrictions.

The animal health commission reports that as of Friday, Texas has detected only one confirmed case. That horse, originally from New Mexico, was treated at a veterinary clinic in far West Texas and has subsequently returned to New Mexico.

A second horse, located in Jack County, has been classified as suspect and is undergoing further diagnostic testing.

The commission is following U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for clinical and suspect cases, which have very specific criteria to meet the case definition.

The epidemiological investigation of the more than 300 horses that reportedly attended the Utah event continues nationwide and the number of Texas horses identified as exposed may increase.

Although mandatory cancellation of future events is not anticipated, the TAHC suggests that horse owners consider the risk of participating in events and/or co-mingling their horses with other horses, equipment and trailers of unknown history.

The American Horse Council and the American Association of Equine Practitioners said last week they are working with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Service to initiate a coordinated response among state, federal and industry partners.

Because the incubation period is usually four to six days or less, even a one-week voluntary stop movement may be enough to stop the cycle of disease transmission between horses before it grows.

Horse owners should contact organizers to ensure that scheduled events have not been canceled.

Some other states have established emergency rules for entry, so if interstate travel is planned, owners and veterinarians writing health certificates should check in advance to ensure they meet all entry requirements.

Officials recommend that all newly purchased or introduced horses to a premise be isolated to help prevent the accidental introduction of EHV-1 and other diseases.

For more information and current updates on EHV-1, visit the TAHC website at www.tahc.state.tx.us.

Tulsa event postponed

One fallout from the news was the postponement of the two-week long Breeders Invitational cutting event in Tulsa, Okla., that hosted 775 horses last year.

“It’s a very serious deal,” according to Abilene veterinarian Dr. Randy Lewis.

He said there are some places in Weatherford that have been closed as a precautionary basis.

The American Quarter Horse Association canceled cutting activities at its Texas Classic Quarter Horse Show last week in Fort Worth.

The National Cutting Horse Association with cooperation from affiliates and show producers has canceled all events nationwide for the rest of May.

Buddy Fisher, an Abilene quarter horse trainer, and J.O. Duke, husband of futurity barrel racer La Tricia Duke, both said they did not know of any local cases or suspected cases of the virus in the Abilene area.

The West Texas Rodeo Association event scheduled for this weekend was canceled as a precautionary measure.

Duke said he and his wife will not participate in a horse show in Fort Smith, Ark. Duke also said many quarter horse facilities have signs on their gates denying entrance or exit of any horses.

EHV can cause abortion and death. It can spread through the air, contaminated equipment, clothing and hands, according to the USDA.

Symptoms include fever, decreased coordination, urine dribbling, loss of tail tone, hind limb weakness, leaning against structure to maintain balance, lethargy and inability to rise.

A horse owner should contact a veterinarian if a horse shows any indication of the above symptoms.

Associated Press contributed to this report.