Source: Texas Animal Health Commission
Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials have released the premises quarantined for equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic disease linked to equine herpes virus (EHV-1), in Denton County on March 15, 2017. There are no other reported EHM cases in Texas.
The barrel racing horse had shown signs of ataxia, which is a loss of coordination of the muscles, and other neurological signs consistent with EHM when evaluated by a local veterinarian. Prior to confirmation, the positive horse attended barrel racing events at the Northside Arena in Fort Worth on Feb. 14 and an NRS Arena in Decatur on Feb. 15.
While the risk of exposure to the virus was low at the events, owners of horses potentially exposed were encouraged to take precautions.
The premises was released after more than 14 days when no new cases of EHV-1 were found and the previously positive horse tested negative for EHV-1.
The equine industry is encouraged to obtain the latest information on disease events across the country by visiting the Equine Disease Communication Center at http://www.equinediseasecc.org/outbreaks.aspx.
To download a fact sheet on biosecurity and protecting your horses from EHV-1 and other equine diseases, click or tap on the following link: http://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/brochures/TAHCBrochure_BiosecurityEquine.pdf
To download a fact sheet about EHM, from TAHC, click or tap on the following link: http://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/brochures/TAHCBrochure_EquineHerpesMyeloencephalopathy.pdf.