By Mike Donahue
Moapa Valley Progress
Moapa Valley horse owners are being cautioned about letting their animals come in contact with any other horses because of a recent outbreak of equine herpes virus (EHV-1), a highly contagious often fatal equine disease.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported last weekend that more than 35 horses in at least eight states and Canada have been confirmed to have the disease. The vast majority of originally infected horses participated in the National Cutting Horse Championship on April 29 through May 8 in Ogden, UT.
Three-hundred-eight horses were exposed by attending the Utah event and it was estimated over the weekend that nearly 700 more were exposed to the deadly disease by secondary contact or proximity, the USDA said.
Although it was unknown at press time if any Nevada horses were ill with EVH-1, there were Nevada horses at the Utah event.
EVH-1 is highly contagious and is spread by horse-to-horse contact or through contaminated equipment. Humans are not affected by the disease but they can spread it to their animals through their hands or clothing should they come in contact with the virus.
Symptoms of EVH-1 include respiratory problems, high leg weakness, fever, decrease coordination and nasal discharge. Many horses have been euthanized because of the disease for which there is no vaccine.
So far states with confirmed cases of the recent EVH-1 outbreak include California, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Washington and Oregon.
Several scheduled horse shows and rodeos across the west have been cancelled and prospective participants are urged to contact event coordinators to check on the status of upcoming events.
