A COVID-19 message to equestrians

Dr. Brian Joseph
Washington State Veterinarian

State Veterinarians across the U.S are concerned about animal susceptibility to coronavirus and
possible links between animals and the spread of COVID-19 among humans.

Horses are not susceptible to COVID-19, but horse owners
should avoid gathering with people around horse barns etc.

For horse owners and people who work with horses, we see little cause for concern about equine susceptibility or transmission; no evidence currently links the virus that causes COVID-19 with disease in horses nor are there any indications that horses can infect humans with the virus.

A virus in the coronavirus family, equine coronavirus (ECoV), can cause gastrointestinal disease in horses with signs of fever, depression diarrhea and colic, but this variant is NOT the same as the virus that causes COVID-19.

The Equine Disease Communication Center has recently put together valuable resources about the differences in ECoV and COVID-19.

Concern about people

Although our horses are relatively safe for the pandemic, people participating in equine activities and events such as group trail rides, boarding, training and lessons are still at risk.

At a time when we are trying to control the spread of COVID-19, we need Washington’s equine enthusiasts to do their part, too, by adhering to strict limits on, or completely avoiding gatherings of any kind.

Improve your biosecurity for horses

We need to improve our personal biosecurity and that of our horses. So, here are some best practices that were developed with the help of our colleagues in Kentucky to adjust equine activities to protect public health during this time. I urge you to implement these best practices in your facility and in your activities:

• Open barns to allow as much fresh air exchange as is possible.
• Assign equipment to an individual horse. Virus can be carried on equipment (ie: halters, shovels, brushes, cross ties, etc.) 
• Clean and disinfect equipment daily.  This is always a good practice and can decrease the spread of other important equine viruses such as equine influenza virus and equine herpes virus. Clean and disinfect surfaces such as desks, rails, gates, floor mats having contact with individuals or equipment daily.
• Prepare and complete records electronically. Paper records or common dry erase boards can be a pathway for virus to pass between people.
• Limit the number of daily visitors to farms. Consider a schedule that limits the number of individuals on the farm to be less than 10 at any one time.
• Farm employees and horse owners should practice social distancing. This is the only way to stop the spread of the virus.
• Farm employees should take their own temperature twice daily and self-quarantine if they have a fever.  Fevers should be reported to the barn manager.  Designate someone else to care of the sick person’s horse.
• Do not to move your horses between stables unless it is essential. 
• Practice excellent biosecurity. Clean and disinfect your tack and your trailer including the wheels. Moving horses to new stables causes them stress which can suppress their immune system making them more susceptible to disease.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations and wash your hands frequently with soap and water. 

One other note: WSDA's brand program not doing field inspections for horses (lifetimes or annuals) to observe social distancing during this crisis. This work will resume as soon as it is safe.

I understand that some of what we are recommending is inconvenient, some of it costs money, but if we all work together, we can stop the spread of this virus.  All our health, our economy and the quality of our lives depends on our working together.

A call for vigilance: keep deadly poultry disease out of our backyard

Dr. Brian Joseph
Washington State Veterinarian

An outbreak of a deadly poultry disease in southern California is cause for local poultry growers and those with backyard flocks to keep their guard up.

If you have poultry, we ask that you be on the lookout for signs of Virulent Newcastle Disease (vND) and report any cases to the WSDA Sick Bird Hotline at 1-800-606-3056. 

The warning comes on the heels of an outbreak that began this May in Southern California, where the virus appeared and spread through backyard poultry flocks in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The disease has not been detected in any domestic poultry in Washington – we would like to keep it that way.

Watch for unusually large numbers of poultry deaths or symptoms such as swelling around the eyes and neck, dripping of fluid from the beak and nasal area, coughing, sneezing, twisting of the head and neck, greenish diarrhea, decreased appetite, or decreased egg production.

Commonly known as exotic Newcastle disease, vND spreads quickly with high rates of illness and mortality for domestic poultry. 

The vND virus can infect many bird species including chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, and game birds. Infected birds shed large amounts of virus in respiratory fluids and feces.

Backyard chickens are at greater risk and are highly susceptible because they can be “silently” infected by other birds, such as parrots, that show few or no signs of illness.

No commercial poultry operations have been affected so far and properly cooked poultry poses no risk to humans when consumed. For poultry, the virus can be transferred between facilities on clothing, feed, equipment or by moving birds, which may appear unaffected. 

Prevention through biosecurity 

The key to preventing vND infection is to practice consistent biosecurity. Recommendations from CDFA include:

• Use dedicated clothing and footwear or wear disposable coveralls and booties when visiting birds
• If exposed to poultry waste, change clothes and footwear, disinfect any items used and wash your car
• Use footbaths for the bottoms of shoes or plastic botties at entry/exit of poultry enclosures
• Practice good hygiene for your hands and disinfect equipment
• Prevent wild birds from entering poultry enclosures
• Carcasses of dead birds should be double bagged in plastic garbage bags
• DO NOT dump bird carcasses on the roadside or other exposed locations
• Avoid gatherings where poultry are present
• Avoid sharing or borrowing equipment from other poultry owners
• Avoid moving your birds or purchasing new additions unless they are from an NPIP certified seller.

Visit our avian health webpage if you have questions about exotic Newcastle disease, or how to keep your birds safe and healthy. 

Horses hit hard with West Nile virus in northeastern WA

Mike Louisell
Communications

Photo credit: Erin Danzer

Ten confirmed cases of West Nile Virus in horses have been detected so far this year in Washington, with the most recent cases in Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln and Spokane counties. Warmer weather seems to have prompted the spread of mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus into these northeastern parts of Washington.

The first case of the year came in late July involving a horse in Grandview, Yakima County, the state’s traditional hotspot for the West Nile virus. Since then, the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL), operated by Washington State University in Pullman, has reported nine additional horse cases to WSDA.

The cases include:

• A horse in Creston, Lincoln County, in guarded condition. It had not been vaccinated for West Nile virus.
• A horse in Sprague, Lincoln County, in fair condition. It was vaccinated as a foal and yearling. 
• A horse near Elk, Stevens County, has been euthanized. It was not vaccinated.
• A horse in Kettle Falls, Stevens County, in guarded condition. It was not vaccinated.
• A horse in Colville, Stevens County, in fair condition. It was vaccinated.
• A horse in Newport, Pend Oreille County, is in fair condition. It was not vaccinated.
• A horse in Cheney, Spokane County, is in fair to good condition. It was not vaccinated.
• A horse in Cheney, Spokane County, died recently. Tissue tested positive for West Nile virus. Vaccination history unknown.
• A horse in Deer Park, Spokane County, is in fair condition. It was not vaccinated.
• The horse in Grandview, Yakima County was showing neurologic signs including stumbling and difficulties eating when the case was reported in late July. It was not vaccinated. It was the first horse report for 2016.

Washington had 36 confirmed cases of horses with West Nile virus last year, leading the nation with nearly 17 percent of confirmed equine cases. The virus is spread by mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. The disease sickens people, horses, birds and other animals, but it does not spread directly from horses to people or other animals. The risk of a horse becoming ill lingers into fall.

Vaccinations against West Nile virus and reducing mosquito populations are the main strategies for protecting your horse. Spring is the best time for the vaccination but some veterinarians say it’s never too late to vaccinate for some protection against the virus.

Other tips include:
• Remove standing water from yards and barns that can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, including old tires and garbage that may be rain soaked.
• Change water at least weekly in troughs or bird baths.
• Keep horses in stalls or screened areas during early morning and evening hours when mosquitoes are most active.
• Put fans inside bars and stalls to maintain air movement.

Visit our West Nile virus webpage for more on protecting your horse against this disease.