In regards to recent reports there has been an outbreak of a neurological form of Herpes virus disease referred to as EHV 1. The outbreak is associated with horses that attended the recent Cutting Horse championship in OGDEN, Utah. This is a similar virus but different strain of what we refer to as “Rhino”. While we vaccinate against the respiratory and abortion form, these vaccines do not protect against the neurological form. No vaccine on the market claims that is effective against the neurological form of the disease.
Although we must be careful, there is no need to panic. We are monitoring the situation closely and are in contact with veterinarians in the area and the USA.
Conversations with veterinary colleagues in the province have indicated that the affected horses have been identified and are confined and quarantined in a single private stable in the Okanagan Valley.
As of May 16, 2011 to our knowledge, there are no cases identified in the Fraser Valley so far. The only horse in the Fraser Valley that was at Ogden, Utah is 9 days post-exposure and is showing no clinical signs.
For additional general information please follow this link:
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/equine_herpes_virus.html
Or follow this link to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) site:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/toce.shtml
