What is the EHV virus?
A word from Alabama State Veterinarian, Tony Frazier
03-08-12
From: Dr. Frazier, Alabama State Veterinarian
Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 (EHV-1) is described to be a highly contagious pathogen that is ubiquitous in horse populations throughout the world. Infections in horses can result in a variety of ailments that include respiratory disease, abortions, neonatal deaths and the neurological disease termed Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Recently, alerts of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy being diagnosed in multiple states have been issued. States having cases of EHM diagnosed in recent months include California, Illinois, New Jersey, Tennessee, Florida and Utah. Horses of different breeds and representing vastly different disciplines and activity have been affected.
The apparent increased frequency of disease and severity of symptoms being seen has lead Alabama State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier to conclude extra precaution needs to be initiated and implemented to help mitigate the associated risk. We are recommending to immediately review your bio-security practices and if needed elevate your bio-security plan to minimize opportunity of horses having direct or indirect contact with one another. Indirect contact would include common water and feed sources as well as shared equipment and common areas. The goal of a bio-security plan is to prevent the transmission of infectious agents among individuals. The components of a successful program will include cooperation of management, facility layout, decontamination, and when applicable immunization. Each of these factors directly affects the success or failure of the program. A copy of the American Association of Equine Practitioners bio-security guidelines and EHV resources can be found at www.aaep.org/ehv_resources.htm (sorry link no longer works). Our office is happy to assist facilities, show management and event veterinarians in evaluating their individual plans and when a need is
identified, assist in adapting the plans.EHV virus horse
As an additional preventive measure, we encourage horsemen to consult their veterinarians and after evaluating their animal’s vaccination status consider if there is need or benefit to stimulating an immune response by vaccinating against EHV-1. We acknowledge the available vaccines’ labels make no claim to prevent neurological disease; but based on our experience managing outbreaks of this disease, and in consultation with infectious disease experts and research scientist, we continue to be of the opinion the vaccine does have a meaningful level of efficacy and may aide in reducing the impact of a disease incident.
Oh, and be sure that your horse covers it’s mouth when it sneezes!
