Information on the outbreak of EHV-1
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| Ranch Sorting National Championships |
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| Information on the outbreak is improving day to day and we are debuking a few rumors just as fast as they arrive. The latest concerns a horse that everyone was saying was the first Texas case at Andrews, TX. This is INCORRECT and I will clarify it below. Obviously most of you in the western states are concerned with this contagious virus, but even with all the hoopla there are only 17 confirmed cases of cutting horses from the Ogden event in the entire country. The vets feel they have everything under control, and are waiting for the secondary infections to show up from exposure to the original animals. The first two of these secondary exposures showed up in Colorado Wednesday, which is exactly what the vets believed would happen.They think all the secondary exposures will show up by this weekend.
I like what the Brazos Hospital had published, “There will likely be horses that test positive, but if those horses are appropriately quarantined and stay home, they are at low risk at spreading this virus. As long as this is contained to horses exposed in Ogden, Utah or on the farm, there will not be a prolonged outbreak.” |
| All Ranch Sorting Contestants:
Multiple horses who returned home from the April 30-May 8 NCHA Western National Championship in Ogden, Utah this month have tested positive for the neurological form of the EHV-1 infection. The NCHA’s Breeder’s Invitational show in Tulsa, OK, scheduled to run May 14-18, was cancelled due to concerns about the recent outbreak. No horses in Tulsa for the BI have exhibited any clinical signs of EHV, however, the governing bodies for the events made the decision to cancel the shows to ensure the maximum health and safety of horses scheduled to participate until additional information on the extent of the several EHV cases reported in other state(s) can be determined.
Ranch Sorting National Championships has been diligently monitoring the course of the EHV-1 disease outbreak in preparing for the upcoming RSNC National Finals, beginning June 27th, 2011. According to Dr. Mike Herrin, ActingState Veterinarian of Oklahoma, Texas and Oklahoma do not currently have any confirmed cases of EHV-1. The state veterinary office is working to identify all horses that attended the show in Utah, and then traveled to this state. Any horse that attended that show could have been exposed to the virus and will be monitored.
The Oklahoma State Veterinary Office, The RSNC and Ardmore Hardy Murphy Coliseum management are cooperating to insure that every possible measure is taken to prevent such an outbreak from occurring at the RSNC show in June, 2011. They are also providing an isolation area, in the event a fever or neurologic symtoms, develop, in order to separate any horse while at the Fairgrounds. The Oklahoma State Veterinary office, in conjunction with the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (OADDL) are gearing up to provide rapid test results of samples submitted for EHV-1 testing.
Finally, the RSNC is closely monitoring any news that may develop with this current EHV-1 outbreak and will keep all RSNC participants as informed as possible to allow them to care for their horse’s health in the best possible manner, as well as enjoy the competition and camaraderie of the RSNC Events!
RSNC encourages horse enthusiasts to be well informed, receive your information from your State Veterinary Office, and not fall victim to idle gossip or hear say.
* Dr. Michael Herrin, Acting State
Veterinarian, (405) 522-6142 |
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This entry was posted
on Thursday, May 19th, 2011 at 9:15 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.
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