2011 PRESS RELEASES
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May 20, 2011
STATEMENT FROM THE VIRGINIA STATE VETERINARIAN ON EQUINE HERPES VIRUS-1
Contact: Elaine Lidholm, 804.786.7686
Dr. Richard L. Wilkes, State Veterinarian with the Virginia Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), confirmed today that no horses that competed at the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Western National Championship have been traced to Virginia at this time. More than 40 suspected cases of Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1) or Equine Herpes Virus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) have been identified recently in horses that attended the NCHA Western National Championship event in Ogden, Utah April 29 to May 8, 2011. Thirty-three of confirmed cases of EHV-1 or EHM cases have been reported in eight Western states: CA, CO, ID, NM, OR, TX, UT, WA. The NCHA has notified State Animal Health Officials of horses from their states that were entered in the NCHA competition and may have been exposed to the virus.
No Virginia horses, or horses from states adjacent to Virginia, are known to have been at the event at this time.
“We are monitoring the situation carefully outside of Virginia and will do everything we can to protect our horses,” said Dr. Wilkes. “We cannot promise that we can keep EHV-1 out of Virginia, but with our horse owners on high alert and our constant contact with State Veterinarians and the horse industry in affected states, we are cautiously optimistic.”
Wilkes added, “Even though no horses have been traced to Virginia from the NCHA Western National Championship, horse owners are reminded that whenever horses are comingled there is some risk for a number of diseases including EHV. Every owner should adopt sound biosecurity practices to protect their animals at equine events and upon their return to their home stable. Horse owners should work with their veterinarians for recommendations for vaccination programs, biosecurity practices and methods for early disease detections to minimize the risks of their horses becoming ill.”
At this time, Dr. Wilkes has not requested cancellations of any horse events in Virginia. Horse owners planning to travel to other states should check with the State Animal Health Official in the destination state to see if any new pre-entry testing or statement requirements have been enacted as a result of this disease event.
More information on EHV-1 iis available here.