Dr. Stephen Schumacher - EHV Update as of 03.12.21

There have been many rumors circulating regarding additional EHV cases.  As of this afternoon, there are no additional EHV (specifically, EHM) cases that have been reported.  The third potential horse that was removed from WEC on Saturday, March 6, tested negative for EHV-1. 

There have been additional EHV-Neuro cases posted on the EDCC website.  On March 10, the California Department of Food and Agriculture reported an EHV-Neuro in Los Angeles.  USEF has contacted the reporting agency and at this time, there has been no identified contact with a USEF competition. 

On March 11, The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets reported 2 EHV-Neuro, and 2 EHV-1 cases in Putnam, NY.  One of these 4 positive horses competed at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY.  USEF has reached out to the State Veterinarian for NY and been placed in contact with the managing veterinarians.  We have offered to provide any assistance in determining potential contact horses. 

On March 11, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture reported 7 confirmed cases of EHV-Respiratory at a show horse boarding facility in Chester County, PA.  The authorities are tracing a possible connection to an EHM case not on the premises.  USEF has reached out to the Pennsylvania State Veterinarian and offered assistance.

Additionally, there have been EHV-Neuro cases reported in race track settings in Kentucky as reported by the Kentucky Office of the State Veterinarian. 

For complete accounting of all reported disease outbreaks/cases, please to go to the EDCC website at https://equinediseasecc.org/alerts.  It is important to be aware that there were 66 EHV-Neuro reports issued in 2020.  While this is an endemic disease and can appear anywhere at any time, biosecurity and isolation principles are essential to limiting the exposure of other horses and to the spread of the disease.  At this time, no report has been produced that any of these sites are connected to each other, the cases in Florida or the cases in Europe.  However, with additional investigation, that may change.  Competitors need to be ever vigilant in implementing biosecurity measures at all times.