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Horse shows cancelled after deadly virus strikes in Iowa and Illinois

A contagious, deadly virus has forced the cancellation of several horse shows in Iowa and Illinois.
horse

A contagious, deadly virus has forced the cancellation of several horse shows in Iowa and Illinois.

EHV-1, or Equine Herpes Virus – 1, affects a horse’s nervous system; it can also cause respiratory disease, abortion or neonatal death according to the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Symptoms of the neurologic version could include leg weakness (leaning, lack of balance, inability to stand), lethargy, stumbling, head tilting, fever, and difficulty urinating.

“The EHV-1 virus is a normal occurring virus found in the equine population. All of the reasons that EHV-1 causes these severe neurological signs in some horses is not fully understood,” said information on the association’s website.

EHV-1 is spread by direct horse-to-horse contact through nasal secretions, and it can be spread indirectly through contact with contaminated objects including people, tack, trailers, feed and water buckets and grooming equipment.   The virus has also been reported in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oregon, New Jersey, Ontario and Maryland.

Anyone planning to participate in, or attend, a horse show or other equine event was cautioned to check to confirm whether the event was still planned.

One horse died and one lived after both, from the same stable, were diagnosed with EHV-1 after the Midwest Reining Horse Association show at Gordyville in Gifford, Illinois, in early May, according to a post from the National Reining Horse Association.  That forced the indefinite postponement of future events at the facility, including the Illinois Quarter Horse Association Youth Shows set for May 15-17.

“NRHA strongly recommends not to travel with horses that have been in this area or currently reside in this area until the recommended time has passed and deemed safe for horses to be asymptomatic,” the NRHA post said.  The Gordyville facility was set to undergo a complete disinfection.

Some Illinois organizers were postponing horse-related activities as a precaution, to help prevent further spread of the disease, according to the horse health publication EquiMed.

The virus forced the Francis Field Youth Foundation of New Lenox, Illinois, to cancel events they had slated for May 16 and May 23. The organization still planned to hold events in June, July, August and September, according to a May 21 post on their Facebook page.

The Great River Benefit Horse Show in Cedar Rapids was cancelled because of the outbreak.   Show organizers cited the “safety and well-being of the horses and exhibitors” as their priority, saying “the show does not want to contribute to the possible spread of this deadly virus.”

Reedannland Farm in central Iowa reported EHV-1 killed four of their blue ribbon-winning horses and that several more animals were sick in an online post May 11, 2015.

 

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