Equine Herpes Confirmed In Thurston County

The Washington state Department of Agriculture has quarantined a Thurston County facility after a case of non-neuropathogenic equine herpes was detected in a horse.  Known as the wildtype strain of EHV-1, this strain tends to be less contagious.  But Dr. Ben Smith with WSDA said that does not mean the virus is not as serious.

“The wildtype can become neurological, so the horses can have CNS signs where they get weak in the rear end, urine dribbling, go down and can’t get back up, and in those cases, once they get CNS signs, that’s considered equine herpes myeloencephalopathy.  So it’s a neurological disease.”

The horse in question was taken to an Oregon State center where it was diagnosed with EHV-1 on April 19^th.

Signs to watch your if you think your horse may have Equine Herpes.

• Fever of 101.5F or higher
• Discharge from the eyes or nose
• Respiratory symptoms
• Swelling of the limbs
• Spontaneous abortions
• Neurological signs such as unsteady gait, weakness, urine dripping, lack of tail tone and recumbency.

WSDA is asking horses owners, to notify your veterinarian immediately if you detect any of the symptoms above. Your veterinarian may want to take nasal swabs for virus detection or blood samples for evidence of exposure to EHV-1.  When the virus is detected, WSDA and local veterinarians work closely with affected communities to ensure the best biosecurity standards are practiced.

For additional tips, visit WSDA’s Website.

The time between exposure and illness from EHV-1 varies from two to 10 days. By self-quarantining animals with possible symptoms, practicing good biosecurity and contacting your veterinarian as soon as you suspect possible symptoms, you can help prevent the spread of this virus.

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