Source: USDA/APHIS News Release

Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) - FINAL Situation Report June 23, 2011

There are no new cases and no new premises affected. Disease spread in connection with this incident has been contained and no further situation reports will be generated.

Background Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) infection in horses can cause respiratory disease, abortion in mares, neonatal foal death, and/or neurologic disease. The neurologic form of EHV-1 is called Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). While EHV-1 and EHM are only officially listed as reportable diseases in some states, private veterinary practitioners are encouraged to notify their State Animal Health Officials of any suspected or confirmed cases, regardless of current official state reporting requirements.

Cases of EHV-1 and EHM have been identified recently in horses that attended the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Western National Championship event in Ogden, Utah held from April 29 to May 8, 2011. The NCHA has notified State Animal Health Officials of horses from their states that were entered in the event and may have been exposed to the virus. State Animal Health Officials have contacted the owners of potentially exposed horses. Standardized recommendations were developed by state and federal officials and are being followed to isolate exposed horses, monitor them for clinical signs of EHV-1, and work with private veterinary practitioners to test and treat horses affected with the disease. Biosecurity procedures have been recommended for premises with suspect and confirmed cases to mitigate further disease spread.

Definitions for This Report

Primary Exposed Horses: Horses that attended the Ogden, Utah event from April 29 to May 8.

Secondary Exposed Horses: Horses that subsequently came into direct contact with horses that attended the Ogden, Utah event.

Tertiary Exposed Horses: Horses with three degrees or more separation from direct contact with a horse that attended the Ogden, Utah event.

Exposed Premises: Premises with exposed horses.

Suspect EHV-1 case: A horse exposed to EHV-1 that develops fever (rectal temperature above 101.5 oF), but has no neurologic signs at this time.

Confirmed EHV-1 case: A suspect EHV-1 case with laboratory confirmation of EHV-1 infection, but has no neurologic signs at this time.

Suspect EHM case: A horse exposed to EHV-1 that develops neurologic signs. (Posterior incoordination, weakness, recumbency with inability to rise, and/or bladder atony are most commonly seen in EHM cases.)

Confirmed EHM case: A suspect EHM case with laboratory confirmation of EHV-1 infection.

Summary Information on Current Situation

• Owners of horses known to have been exposed in this incident have been contacted by State Animal Health Officials.
• Suspect and confirmed cases are reported to be under voluntary or state quarantine.
• Known exposed horses are reported to be under either voluntary or state quarantine.
• A total of 90 confirmed EHV-1 or EHM cases were reported in 10 states (AZ, CA, CO, ID, NM, NV, OK, OR, UT, WA)
• Of the 90 confirmed EHV/EHM cases, 54 cases were horses that were at the Ogden, Utah event.
• There are 13 horses associated with this incident that are dead or have been euthanized.
• There are 0 newly identified premises with suspect or confirmed cases identified this reporting period.
• With no new cases and no new affected premises, disease spread in connection with this incident has been contained. No further situation reports will be generated.