WEATHERFORD, Oklah. (RFD-TV) — An ongoing Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) outbreak was recently detected following a rodeo event in Waco, Texas — it is raising concerns for horse owners across the South, but especially in nearby states.
A leading Oklahoma veterinarian is speaking out on the disease’s origin, warning the virus can spread quickly and that owners need to remain vigilant.
“EHV is a virus, a herpes virus, to be exact, in horses,” explains Dr. Jason Thorne, DVM, and the owner of Territory Medicine in Weatherford, Okla. “The good thing, for starters, is that it doesn’t affect humans -- but we can carry it, however. So, the herpes virus comes in two very distinct serovars, Type I and Type IV. There are other types, but in our population, really, it’s just I and IV causing problems. I believe what happened in Waco was going to be an EHV I, and that typically starts out as a predominantly respiratory infection, you know, notable to all of us, as far as a coughing horse or something like that, and that virus was probably shed by a horse that harbored it.”
With cases appearing across the region, Thorne said the most important step for owners is to act quickly if they suspect their horse is getting sick. Key signs of EHV include respiratory symptoms and fever.
“If you’re thinking your horse is looking like it might be sick or getting suspicious, then get yourself a digital thermometer,” he said. “Take a temperature at home, because, you know, we want you to stay home. We don’t want you to have to haul anywhere if you can help it. But get a temperature, then double-check it, and if it is over 101.5, get on the horn with your veterinarian and describe what you’re seeing and where you’ve been. What some people seem to forget with the rush of an outbreak is, wait a minute, where have I been? And not necessarily my horse, but where have I been with other horses and came home?”
Thorne urged owners to watch their horses closely and report any signs of illness immediately. As a precaution, many organizations are canceling events, urging owners to stop hauling, and implementing quarantine measures. Experts said vaccination remains one of the best tools to prevent EVH infections.
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