September 2023 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN September 2023 Page 31 EDCC Press release Rapid response, communica- tion between horse show man- agement and state veterinarians, and a biosecurity plan saved an Equine Herpesvirus outbreak at the Virginia Horse Center from spreading and cancelling horse shows from coast to coast. On June 20, the first day of the Shenandoah Classic Horse Show, a horse in the early morning hours displayed lethargy, urine dribbling, and ataxia and was shipped to Rood and Riddle Veterinary Hos- pital in Lexington, Ky. The next morning, a second horse from the same owner and stable, displayed the same symptoms. That horse was shipped immediately off the grounds to Rood and Riddle. Both horses tested positive for Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), the virus that causes Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Both horses subsequently died. Following the notification of the EHM positives, the Virginia Horse Center’s biosecurity plan was immediately implemented with calls to Virginia State Veterinary officials, the United States Eques- trian Federation Equine Health and Biosecurity Veterinarian and show management. The initial informa- tion was submitted to the Equine Disease Communication Center by the Virginia State Veterinarian’s Office field veterinarian Dr. Abby Sage to make everyone in Virginia aware of the outbreak and its status. The handling of this EHM outbreak differed greatly from the 2011 cutting horse show in Ogden, Utah, which saw 2,000 horses po- tentially exposed with 90 testing positive and 242 premises in 19 states with 17 cases confirmed in California alone. Of the more than 1,000 registered shows and events that year in California 312 were canceled due to the outbreak. Thirteen horses died or were euthanized with others having an incomplete recovery. Glenn Petty, VHC executive director, said removing the infect- ed horses from the grounds was the center’s priority. Removing the horses helped to contain the spread of the disease as well as ease the minds of the trainers in the unaffected barns. “We instructed them to begin implementation of the EHM Biosecurity Plan,” said Dr. Sage. “That evening a verbal hold order was placed on all horses at the center prohibiting any horses from leaving the venue.” Dr. Sage said it is imperative that every horse show facility that houses horses overnight have a bi- osecurity plan in place, know how to activate it and who to contact in the event a horse shows signs of illness while on the grounds. “Establishing a relationship with the state animal health officials or those who will be implementing the plan greatly improves communication and ability to contain the disease,” Dr. Sage said. Rapid Response and Communication Saved an EHM Outbreak in Virginia (Continued on page 42)