Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8483
Tel: (859) 258-2472
Fax (859) 231-6662
Web site: www.usef.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 28, 2006

>From the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services/Division of Animal Industry

Nine cases of Equine Herpes Virus - type 1 (EHV-1) have been confirmed with laboratory testing from horses, seven in the Wellington area, one in Ocala, Florida and one in Indiantown, Florida. The Ocala horse shipped from south Florida and had a direct link to one of the horses shipped in from New York, on November 29th. Five deaths have been attributed to this disease, although only two of those cases could be confirmed by laboratory tests. The index or first case reported was a horse imported from Europe through the USDA New York Animal Import Center.

State and Federal officials are working closely with veterinarians, owners, managers, and others in the affected equine industry to identify potentially exposed animals and suspect cases and to prevent further spread of the disease.

There are ten quarantined premises, seven in the Wellington area, one in Ocala, Florida, one in Jupiter, Florida, and one in Indiantown, Florida. Eight premises with confirmed cases are under state quarantine and two premises with suspect neurologic cases are under state quarantine. Currently, there are not state or federal restrictions for horse movements into, within, or out of the state of Florida. Some premises and events have their own entry requirements. Contact your point of destination for specific information concerning any restrictions that premises/events may have imposed.

The following premises are currently under mandatory state quarantine:

J N Stables - 15680 46th Lane S - Wellington, FL - Palm Beach County

S & L Farms - 13155 Southfields Road - Wellington, FL - Palm Beach County

Equine Services Ltd. (Isolation Barn only) - 4751 South Road - West Palm Beach, FL - Palm Beach County

Palm Beach Equine Sports Complex - 13124 Southfields Road - Wellington, FL - Palm Beach County

Palm Beach Equine Clinic (Isolation Barn only) - 13125 Southfields Road - Wellington, FL - Palm Beach County

Reid & Associates (Isolation Barn only) - 1630 F Road - Loxahatchee, FL - Palm Beach County

Pinehurst Stables - 10095 165th Lane North - Jupiter, FL - Martin County

Tuxedo Farms - 7780 NW 137th Avenue - Morriston, FL 32668 - Marion County

Payson Park - 9700 SW Kanner Highway - Indiantown, FL - Martin County

Victory Lane - 14875 Palm Beach Point - Wellington, FL - Palm Beach County

Industry representatives and state and federal officials have agreed on a number of steps to contain this outbreak. These include the identification of potentially exposed animals with appropriate monitoring and bio-security measures taken, isolation and treatment of suspected cases, and coordination of control efforts by industry and state and federal representatives. The close working relationship between cooperators, stakeholders, and the public is the key to limiting the spread of this disease.

Although EHV-1 can be a serious disease of horses and the virus can spread through the air from respiratory infection, transmission generally requires direct or close contact between horses. Transmission can also occur through contaminated equipment, clothing, and hands. Horses with clinical signs should be isolated and kept 40 feet or more from other horses.

Owners with sick horses should contact their private veterinarian to examine and treat their horses. Veterinarians suspecting EHV-1 with neurologic signs are advised to contact state officials and follow protocols for collecting and submitting appropriate samples for laboratory diagnosis.

While herpes vaccines are available, none are specifically labeled for the neurologic form of EHV-1. Concerned owners should discuss whether vaccination of their animals is recommended, the type of vaccines available, and the frequency of recommended vaccination with their veterinarian. Vaccination in the face of an outbreak will probably not prevent infection but may lessen respiratory signs and reduce viral shedding with future exposure.

For more information, please see the following web sites:

Last Updated: December 27, 2006 (c) 2004-2006 Florida

END

As the National Governing Body (NGB) of Equestrian Sport, the United States Equestrian Federation(r), Inc. (USEF) is the regulatory body for 28 breeds and disciplines, including our country's international teams competing in the disciplines of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, para-equestrian, reining, show jumping and vaulting. With over 87,000 members, it is the country's largest multi-breed organization and annually license more than 2,800 competitions nationwide. The USEF governs all aspects of competition, including education and licensing of all judges, stewards, and technical delegates who officiate shows.

Vision Statement: The vision of United States Equestrian Federation(r) is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America, promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its horses, and embracing this vision, to be the best national equestrian federation in the world.