05/03/2021
EHV-1 Outbreak in Florida
For Vermont clients in Florida and for those that have barns in VT where horses from Florida will be returning this Spring you have and will be hearing about this developing situation. Currently things are still in the early stages, but knowing that transmission can be high and rapid with this virus and the implications to horses can be significant, it's worth noting the following, this is from our State Veterinarian, Dr. Kristin Haas on Thursday 3/5:
"Late this afternoon, we received 1) information from the Florida Department of Agriculture and USDA APHIS Veterinary Services re. a positive Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy case in Ocala, Florida and 2) information re. the steps that USDA is taking to mitigate the domestic impact of the evolving EHV-1 outbreak in Europe...This is the time of the year when resident horses may be returning to VT after wintering in the south, including Ocala. As always, we also strongly urge all horse owners and managers in VT to employ biosecurity practices whenever horses are moved to, from or between barns or comingling facilities, even after very short absences. "
The following is information released from Florida's State Veterinarian:
1. The farm is near the World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Ocala. 2. The farm takes horses to and from the show grounds. Some stay for several days while competing. The index horse in an 8 year old mare that was at the showgrounds competing from for several days, returning to the farm on February 21.
3. The mare had a fever on February 23 and became acutely neurologic on Monday March 1st. She was transported to the Univ. of Florida, College of Vet Med. and is currently alive and being treated in isolation.
4. The mare was tested on whole blood and nasal swab and the whole blood was positive on PCR for EHV-1, neurotropic strain.
5. The referring veterinarian called on March 1st to report the case and we quarantined the entire farm on that same day.
6. The index farm is taking temperatures 2x per day and any horse with a fever of 101.5 or greater will be tested for EHV-1 via whole blood and nasal swab.
7. Currently the index horse is the only horse that has been reported with neurological signs.
8. There are no other premises under quarantine or suspect for EHV-1 in Florida.
9. The index horse is the only horse testing positive for EHV-1.
10. The WEC has instituted increased biosecurity measures and stopped all incoming horses but continues to allow competition with those horses currently stabled on the grounds.
Situation in Europe:
At the same time there is an ongoing EHV-1 outbreak in Europe that's being managed, but again a concern for horses being imported and similar biosecurity measures are recommended for barns receiving those horses.
Again, this is still early and if all goes well, the cases will be limited, due to the highly transmissible nature of this virus though taking precautions with traveling horses is warranted.
