Articles: Horse News
Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) Update
Contact:
Texas Animal Health Commission
"Serving Texas Animal Agriculture Since 1893"
2105 Kramer Lane ~ Austin, Texas 78758
512.719.0710 ~ bonnie.ramirez@tahc.state.tx.us ~ http://www.tahc.state.tx.us
For more information contact the Public Information office at
1-800-550-8242, ext. 710 or at bonnie.ramirez@tahc.state.tx.us
June 3, 2011
AUSTIN - The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) is wrapping up the
investigation of one confirmed case of the neurologic form of EHV-1 in Ector
County. Information gathered indicates that the affected horse had not
attended a public event in several months, making this most likely an
isolated case. Other horses on the premises are under movement restrictions
and are being closely monitored for signs of the illness.
Regarding the Ogden, UT event, 9 of the 26 horses in Texas that attended the
event remain under movement restriction. The number of cohorts
(stablemates), under movement restriction has dropped from 323 to
150. Currently, there are a total of 6 premises that have been exposed. The
affected counties include: Randall, Parker, and Jack counties. No Texas
origin horse from the Ogden, Utah event has been confirmed to have the
neurologic form of EHV-1, at the present time.
In other situations where horses have either shown signs consistent with
EHV-1 or tested positive for EHV-1, movement restrictions have been put in
place while additional diagnostic work is conducted by the attending
veterinarian. Positive test results or clinical signs alone do not
necessarily mean that an animal is confirmed of being infected with the
neurologic form of EHV-1.
The TAHC urges horse owners to practice good biosecurity when traveling to
equine related events. The following are links that provide basic
biosecurity
information.
http://www.aaep.org/pdfs/control_guidelines/Biosecurity_instructions%201.pdf
http://www.aaep.org/pdfs/control_guidelines/Instructions%20to%20grooms.pdf
USDA's third EHV-1 situation report is available at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/ehv/ehv_2011_sitrep_060211.pdf
The TAHC will continue posting EHV-1 updates twice a week, unless new
confirmed cases arise. For information regarding EHV-1, visit
www.tahc.state.tx.us . You can also keep up with EHV-1 information through
our Facebook (www.facebook.com/TexasAHC ) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/TAHC
) sites.
*Note* To be consistent with reports from the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and other states, the TAHC is following USDA guidelines
for clinical and suspect cases which have very specific criteria to meet the
case definition. Currently "suspect" and "confirmed" cases will be the two
types of cases that the TAHC reports. The following USDA link outlines the
specific definition for what is classified as a "suspect" and/or "confirmed"
case:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/ehv/ehv_ehm_recommendations_051611.pdf
.
Yvonne "Bonnie" Ramirez
Director of Public Information (Texas Animal Health Commission)
"Serving Texas Animal Agriculture Since 1893"
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