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"Deadly Horse Virus Spreads In 9 States"
So ran the Associated Press article heading on May 28, 2011 in my local newspaper. My insides began to twist and my heart sped up a bit. This was likely due to the fact that my horse was ill - with an unrelated condition - a couple of months ago and the sight of a sick horse was still fresh in my mind.
Equine Herpes
I had to read down to the 4th paragraph before the article finally named the virus; Equine Herpes Virus. The article claimed there were 75 confirmed cased in 9 states. "61 facilities are suspected of being infected, according to numbers released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture."
It got worse the more I read. Apparently 12 horses died or were euthanized days before the article was written. More died in the preceding week. The states involved were listed as Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
What is it?
I decided to get on my computer and find out more. I didn't like the fact that I was clueless about this disease. Knowledge is power, so I figured I'd better get some fast. There are some great sites out there I found the first day I began my search. I even found a site to register for alerts about where the outbreak is hitting. Don't worry, I'll get to it. First I thought I'd give you some basic information about equine herpes virus.
EHV-1, 2, 3, 4
First of all, there are 4 types of Equine Herpes Virus, or EHV. EHV-3 does not appear to develop into Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). "Myeloencephalopathy (my•elo•en•ceph•a•li•tis), means inflammation of the spinal cord and brain. This of course means that many areas of a horse's body can, and are, affected.
In order to contract EHM, a horse must first have, or have had, one of the EHV (1, 2, or 4) viruses. But it is EHV-1 which can most likely mutate and become EHM.
Most horses, by the time they reach 2 years of age have been exposed to EHV-1. This type manifests itself in 4 different forms; respiratory disease, abortion, neonatal death and neurologically. A horse can actually have EHV-1 but show no outward signs of the disease. Regardless, an infected horse, whether displaying symptoms or not, can spread the disease. The neurological signs of EHM appear after damage has been done to the blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord as a result of EHV-1.
Symptoms
How is EHV-1 and EHM spread?
Prevention
At this time there exists no vaccination for EHM.
Because EHM is considered an "emerging disease” due to the changes in severity and in pathogen behavior displayed, symptoms and their severity vary from horse to horse, and so each case may be addressed differently. There is no known medication for EHM at this time. All treatments provided are supportive only.
So ran the Associated Press article heading on May 28, 2011 in my local newspaper. My insides began to twist and my heart sped up a bit. This was likely due to the fact that my horse was ill - with an unrelated condition - a couple of months ago and the sight of a sick horse was still fresh in my mind.
Equine Herpes
I had to read down to the 4th paragraph before the article finally named the virus; Equine Herpes Virus. The article claimed there were 75 confirmed cased in 9 states. "61 facilities are suspected of being infected, according to numbers released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture."
It got worse the more I read. Apparently 12 horses died or were euthanized days before the article was written. More died in the preceding week. The states involved were listed as Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
What is it?
I decided to get on my computer and find out more. I didn't like the fact that I was clueless about this disease. Knowledge is power, so I figured I'd better get some fast. There are some great sites out there I found the first day I began my search. I even found a site to register for alerts about where the outbreak is hitting. Don't worry, I'll get to it. First I thought I'd give you some basic information about equine herpes virus.
EHV-1, 2, 3, 4
First of all, there are 4 types of Equine Herpes Virus, or EHV. EHV-3 does not appear to develop into Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). "Myeloencephalopathy (my•elo•en•ceph•a•li•tis), means inflammation of the spinal cord and brain. This of course means that many areas of a horse's body can, and are, affected.
In order to contract EHM, a horse must first have, or have had, one of the EHV (1, 2, or 4) viruses. But it is EHV-1 which can most likely mutate and become EHM.
Most horses, by the time they reach 2 years of age have been exposed to EHV-1. This type manifests itself in 4 different forms; respiratory disease, abortion, neonatal death and neurologically. A horse can actually have EHV-1 but show no outward signs of the disease. Regardless, an infected horse, whether displaying symptoms or not, can spread the disease. The neurological signs of EHM appear after damage has been done to the blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord as a result of EHV-1.
Symptoms
- A fever prior to any of the neurological symptom
- Loss of tail tone
- Lethargy
- Inability to rise
- Weakness in the hind limbs
- Urine dribbling
- Leaning against a wall or fence in order to maintain balance
How is EHV-1 and EHM spread?
- Direct horse to horse contact
- Airborne transmission. This is called "shedding" of the virus in which an infected horse sneezes. It is not known how far the airborne virus can travel from the research I've seen so far. It is thought to be within the general area of an infected horse' such as the stall, barn, pasture.
- Physical items. This includes all shared tack, grooming products, halters, lead ropes, blankets, stalls, pastures, etc.
- Human hands. While people cannot contract the disease, they can certainly pass it from horse to horse with not only their hands, but gloves, boots, and other clothing.
Prevention
At this time there exists no vaccination for EHM.
- Healthy & Happy - The best way then to prevent it is to keep your horse healthy and happy. It is suspected those horses under stress and/or already ill are more likely to contract EHV-1 and EHM.
- Be careful where you travel. The latest big outbreak occurred in the US at the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah on April 30 – May 8, 2011. Because of a large number of horses attending and being exposed, the outbreak affected a significant number of horses.
- Be Alert! I highly suggest you go to the Equine Disease “Outbreak Alert” site. Once you register on the bottom left-hand side of the page, you will be able to receive text and email warnings of outbreaks. You can enter several zip codes in the event your horse travels over various zip codes. It's well worth the time it will take to register. Please do it today.
Because EHM is considered an "emerging disease” due to the changes in severity and in pathogen behavior displayed, symptoms and their severity vary from horse to horse, and so each case may be addressed differently. There is no known medication for EHM at this time. All treatments provided are supportive only.
- Anti-viral medications - While anti-viral medications have been used to treat EHM, there is currently NO anti-virus proven successful in curing a horse of this disease.
- Fluids / Anti-inflammatory drugs - As a supportive step, one can provide fluids intravenously and/or anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Antibiotics - Antibiotics do not work against the disease but are sometimes given to address a secondary bacterial infection that may arise as a result of a horse having contracted EHM.
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