Recently, horses in multiple states have been diagnosed with Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) infection, with most cases linked to the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Finals and the Elite Barrel Race. This situation has alerted both Pennsylvania’s horse community and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, which announced that it is aware of the multi-state outbreak of the highly contagious virus. The Department said that it is working with other states to investigate traces.

PennAg’s Horse Council is encouraging all members of the equine industry, including those with boarding barns, showgrounds, racetracks, clinics, and horse owners sharing trailers, to practice good biosecurity, know the signs of Equine Herpesvirus, which can spread easily, sometimes before signs appear, and stay informed about notices regarding the current outbreak. 

The number of horses actively shedding the virus at the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Finals and the Elite Barrel Race event is unknown. Therefore, horses at the event may be contagious, which will influence how many are infected, as many left the show to return to their home states after the event. The infection rate depends on whether these horses develop neurological symptoms and continue to spread the virus.  The health risk posed by the virus outbreak to the general horse community will require all involved, including owners, operators, and managers of boarding and training facilities where clientele horses participate in organized competitive events, whether local, regional, or national.  

The Pennsylvania Department recommends that horse owners, boarding and training owners, operators, and managers take precautions and develop a general biosecurity plan to help reduce the spread of the EHM virus.

Some clinical signs of EHM are the following:

• Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO)
• Nasal discharge or coughing
• Lethargy
• Neurological signs, including stumbling or incoordination, loss of tail tone, hind-limb weakness, head tilt, recumbency, and urine dribbling

Other signs that are compatible with EHV-1/EHM.

Horse owners, riders, and barn managers should be practicing good biosecurity protocols and procedures, especially when returning home from shows, including:

• Horses returning from organized events should be in a “quarantine area” at least for a few days following return so that rectal temperatures taken twice daily can be logged and monitored for any evidence of a fever (T > 101.5 F, especially at this time of year when ambient temperatures aren’t nearly as extreme).
• Horses that are in the general population that develop a FUO should be moved to a quarantine area as soon as possible once a fever is detected to protect the rest of the barn population. The quarantine area should be at least 120 feet away from the nearest horse and downwind of any prevailing breeze.  You also need to contact your veterinarian and the Pennsylvania State Veterinarian’s office if a horse develops FUO or other signs consistent with EHM.
• Use separate equipment to feed and muck stalls; wear designated PPE, including coveralls and boots; use a disinfection station; and designate personnel if feasible.
• Contact your or your horse facility’s on-call or chosen veterinarian to provide coverage for equine emergencies. Also, be highly involved in the planning and execution of biosecurity strategies for these organized events, including requiring a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection issued by a Category II Accredited Veterinarian with documentation of up-to-date vaccination status, regardless of whether the animal is traveling interstate or intrastate.  

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is responsible for enforcing interstate animal movement requirements and other disease control measures.

Horse show/event venue owners and managers have the power to implement as strict entry requirements to their showgrounds as they see fit. Typically, the Department of Agriculture does NOT set entry requirements for equine events. However, the agency may exercise quarantine authority or prohibit movement to events if the disease risk is deemed too great.

Event venue operators and managers are encouraged to reach out to the Department to collaborate and receive advice on best practices for shows.

On social media, Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center announced that it is also actively monitoring the situation and staying in close communication with the Pennsylvania State Veterinarian.

New Bolton is advising members of the horse community to practice good biosecurity protocols and procedures, including 

• Avoid sharing equipment unless thoroughly disinfected
• Not letting horses touch noses with unfamiliar horses
• Monitoring temperatures daily when traveling or showing
• Isolating new or returning horses for a minimum of 2 weeks
• Contacting your veterinarian if you notice fever, nasal discharge, or any neurological signs

All horse owners are encouraged to visit the Equine Disease Communications Center for up-to-date information on this outbreak, as well as information to protect your horses.  EHM is a reportable disease in Pennsylvania, and any suspected cases must be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture by calling 717-772-2852.

For reliable updates on the outbreak and the disease, you are encouraged to visit equinediseasecc.org.