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Friday, May 27, 2011
Herpes Threatens New Mexico Horses
By Patrick Lohmann
Journal Staff Writer
Two New Mexico horses have died, and more than two dozen others are at risk of contracting a deadly, highly contagious virus that spread after an event in Utah a month ago.
Although the initial outbreak is nearly contained, the state veterinarian is warning horse owners the virus is here to stay.
Dr. Dave Fly, state veterinarian, said Thursday two horses in New Mexico died from EHV-1, the neurologic form of equine herpes virus, which was traced to a cutting horse event in Ogden, Utah, from April 28 to May 8.
Fly said his office expects to have the outbreak contained next week, but the virus' arrival for the first time in Western states is reason for concern. "For the foreseeable future, this virus is now in the horse industry," he said. "It will pop up again."
Fly recommended in a memo Wednesday that all major horse events be postponed for seven to 10 days. He said several producers have complied, including a junior high rodeo in Lovington and a horse show in Las Cruces.
"Many people are also just voluntarily avoiding traveling, so even the events that are being held — their numbers are way down," he said.
More than two dozen horses in Lea, Torrance and Bernalillo counties are quarantined, Fly said, and all suspected or confirmed cases occurred within those areas.
He said one horse is recovering, and his office is awaiting test results for several other suspected cases. There is no vaccine for the virus, which is not transferable to humans.
The memo said there's no evidence racehorses were exposed, and race track representatives from Ruidoso Downs and SunRay Park and Casino said they had no plans to cancel or postpone races.
"It'd be, like, impossible for that strain to go from that cutting show in Ogden to our back stretch," Ruidoso spokesman Ty Wyant said. "I don't see any comingling at all."
Fly said the State Veterinarian's Office could use "all reasonable authority" to prevent a large outbreak, but he prefers to work with members of the state's horse industry.
Horse owners and show producers will have to change practices to avoid infection, such as disinfecting stalls, he said.
"From here on out, people are going to have to learn that we have this virus circulating — very contagious, very deadly — and they're going to have to take precautions to prevent it," he said.
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