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LAS CRUCES, N. M. — Utah horse owners are being advised to not accept shipments of horses or send their horses to Dona Ana County, New Mexico, after officials confirmed several cases of an equine herpes virus.
The virus was recently detected at a race track near Las Cruces, New Mexico, after samples were taken from a dead horse, according to Utah Department of Agriculture and Food communications director Larry Lewis. The samples tested positive for equine herpes virus and three barns at the track were put under quarantine. Two more horses at the quarantine facility began showing mild symptoms of the virus.
"All equine owners and veterinarians in Utah should be aware of the current situation and maintain close contact with current findings before moving horses into or out of Dona Ana County, New Mexico, that is currently experiencing a potential equine herpes virus outbreak," Lewis said.
There are five different types of equine herpes virus and symptoms include high fever, coughing, nasal discharge, lack of appetite, hindlimb paralysis, loss of bladder and tail function and can cause abortion in female horses, according to the University of Connecticut Department of Animal Science.
The quarantined animals are being monitored, and New Mexico state authorities will assess the facility quarantine and diagnostic procedures, Lewis said. Horses from Dona Ana County, New Mexico, will be restricted from traveling to Utah without special permission until more information on the outbreak has been released by officials. Health certificates reporting the horse's temperature and that there was no potential exposure to the quarantined facility will be required for animals leaving Dona Ana County, New Mexico.
Updates about the outbreak will be posted as they become available.
