Washington State Veterinarian
This “wildtype” strain of EHV-1 tends to be less contagious than the neuropathogenic type.
On May 9, one horse at the facility tested positive for the disease. The horse is now isolated on the premises, and WSDA has quarantined the facility. The quarantine will last until 14 days after WSDA confirms no more signs of the disease and the horse tests negative.
The facility has cooperated fully with the quarantine order and is working to ensure strict biosecurity measures are in place. WSDA is tracing movements of horses off the premises and may issue additional quarantine orders if needed.
Given the infectious nature of EHV-1, WSDA urges horse owners to follow the recommendations below.
Watch your horse for signs of possible infection, such as:
- Fever of 102.5F or higher
- Discharge from the eyes or nose
- Respiratory symptoms
- Swelling of the limbs
- Spontaneous abortions
- Neurological signs such as unsteady gait, weakness, urine dripping, lack of tail tone and recumbency.
Check your horse’s temperature twice daily, ideally first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Also, check before administering medications as some can lower body temperature.
Notify your veterinarian immediately if you detect any of the symptoms above. Your veterinarian may want to take nasal swabs for virus detection or blood samples for evidence of exposure to EHV-1.
When the virus is detected, WSDA and local veterinarians work closely with affected communities to ensure the best biosecurity standards are practiced. For more tips on keeping your own horses safe through good biosecurity practices, please see our previous blog post.
The time between exposure and illness from EHV-1 varies from two to 14 days. By self-quarantining animals with possible symptoms, practicing good biosecurity and contacting your veterinarian as soon as you suspect possible symptoms, you can help prevent the spread of this virus.