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CACHE COUNTY — A farm in Cache County is being quarantined after three horses there were diagnosed with equine herpes virus this week. Two of the horses were put to sleep.
Larry Lewis, with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, said, "We're asking them and requiring them to quarantine the area, meaning no other animals come off that ranch and no other animals go onto the ranch."
These are the first cases since May of 2011, when the outbreak caused rodeo queens to exchange their horses for stick ponies.
"We learned a lot from that," Lewis said. "Horse owners have learned a lot from that, and we use those lessons to help reduce the risk this time around."
Horse owner and vet Dr. Dave Hill said there are symptoms to look for.
By 2 years of age, almost all horses have been infected with EHV-1. The virus can then become latent, or inactive, in the horse's body.
The virus can be reactivated
during times of stress, such
as strenuous exercise, long distance
transport, or at
weaning.
Source: USDA
"Abortion in mares, upper respiratory infection -- typically in younger horses -- and the neurological form," he said.
Dr. Hill said the virus is already in most of the horse population, but stress causes an outbreak. He offered advice for horse owners.
"Make sure they're up to date on their de-worming, their vaccination, good nutrition, regular exercise, all these things combined management-wise will help your horse," he said.
The virus is most commonly spread through horse-to-horse contact. Those participating in events should not let the animal touch another, especially nose-to-nose.
