Area Ranches Looking Out For Equine Herpes
Jasmine Ferrari remembers the last time she heard about an equine herpes breakout.
“In 2006, there was a large outbreak at a racetrack in Kentucky,” she said. “Thirteen horses came down with the virus. They lost over half of them before the vet could determine what the virus was.”
The contagious and sometimes deadly virus has surfaced in the west. It broke out at a horse competition in Utah.
Now, there are 17 confirmed cases in California.
“All those horses have been identified and/or under state quarantine,” said veterinarian Dr. Sonya Wilsterman. “As far as I know, there are no horses in Riverside County that were at that show.”
Dr. Wilsterman emphasized that humans cannot be infected with the virus –only horses.
But, humans can easily pass the virus unknowingly.
“If you were in contact with an infected horse, and you had nasal secretions on your clothing, and you had contact with another horse within 12 to 24 hours, then it’s possible to transmit it that way,” she said.
Warning signs that your horse may be infected with the virus includes a fever, sluggishness and the inability to eat.
More advanced stages include weakness in the hind legs and difficulty urinating.
In order to stop the spread, practice good hygiene: wash your hands and change your clothes before handling other horses.
There is no vaccine for equine herpes.
As a precaution, Dr. Wilsterman advised to avoid attending horse shows and keep your horses away from other horses until after the Memorial Day weekend.
