As of Thursday, April 18, 2019, no new cases of the respiratory form of Equine Herpes Virus type-1 (EHV-1) have been reported in horses competing at the NRCHA Stallion Stakes. As a reminder, there never was a confirmed case of the neurologic form of EHV-1, Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), in horses competing at the Stallion Stakes. The two previously reported respiratory, non-neurological EHV-1 cases still remain the only confirmed cases.
Following the NRCHA Stallion Stakes, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 30 – April 6, other horses that attended the show were tested, but all results were returned negative. NRCHA Official Veterinarian Dr. Joe Carter has been in regular communication with the veterinarians attending to the confirmed and suspected cases in order to remain up-to-speed on the latest facts.
“The good news is no new cases have occurred since the two respiratory cases reported right after the Stakes and there have been no neurological cases confirmed. I have spoken with all the vets treating the confirmed and possible cases. I feel confident in how each case was handled and in such a timely manner,” stated Dr. Carter.
Dr. Carter would like to remind everyone that maintaining healthy procedures and common sense, year-round, will go a long way when contemplating hauling your horse to an outside facility. “Prevention is key anytime of the year, but especially in the Spring when show season is in full swing. Keeping your horse current on booster shots and a close eye on their demeanor, food and water intake, and temperature is so important. Anyone handling and caring for horses should be mindful of the shared areas at facilities – such as wash racks, hoses and fences where horses can be tied. Also minimizing the amount of shared equipment between horses and disinfecting any shared items will help to decrease possible cross-contamination.”
The NRCHA Animal Welfare Committee and Show Committee are working on a stringent short-term bio-security plan for the upcoming NRCHA Derby, held in Paso Robles California, June 9 – 16. A long-term plan to increase the Association’s already strict bio-security procedures will be presented to the NRCHA Board of Directors in the near future.
For the latest information and alerts, feel free to contact the NRCHA Office, Dr. Joe Carter or visit the Equine Disease Communication Center at www.equinediseasecc.org. The NRCHA recommends concerned owners, trainers and competitors research the facts through trusted sources before jumping to harmful conclusions that are often spread via social media.
