Post by AZALA on May 20, 2011 3:24:44 GMT -5
(I don't take credit for this, I had saw it on the other site I roleplay, but it's important and needs passed on.)
There has been an outbreak of a horrid equine disease: Rhino EHV-1 (Equine Herpesvirus). This is a mutant strain of the neurological variation of Rhino, there is no vaccine for it, and it is lethal.
There are multiple confirmed deaths due to EHV in Arizona, California, Utah, Colorado, Canada, Idaho, and unfortunately, is spreading like you cannot believe. It is believed that a horse with the virus attended the NCHA Western National Championship cutting in Ogden, UT and has caused a massive cross contamination. All the horses that are dead or are being treated were vaccinated for Rhino, it doesn’t matter, this strain does not respond to any vaccine. The first death was a Canadian cutting horse that attended the Ogden show, there have been more in Weld County Colorado, there is a barrel racing stable in Colorado that has a confirmed case, which shows that it is rapidly and easily spreading through different disciplines and through many venues - CSU is now full and most Vets are not accepting Rhino horses, and have considered worldwide experts in this matter. This is considered an emerging disease. It is behaving in an extreme manor. A similar outbreak occurred before, and at CSU, despite the fact the school runs one of the nation's top veterinary biosecurity programs, the EHV virus spread to over 20 equine patients on the premises, and spread out of control.
The EHV-1 organism spreads quickly from horse to horse and the neurologic form of the virus can reach high morbidity and mortality rates. The incubation period of EHV-1 is typically 2-10 days, but there has been a case of a horse showing symptoms as many as 12 days after contamination. In horses infected with the neurologic strain of EHV-1, clinical signs may include: nasal discharge, discoordination, hind end weakness, recumbency, lethargy, urine dribbling and diminished tail tone. Prognosis depends on severity of signs and the period of recumbency. There is no specific treatment for EHV-1. Treatment of symptoms may include intravenous fluids, anti-inflammatory drugs and other appropriate supportive treatment. Currently, there is no equine vaccine that has a label claim for protection against the neurological strain of the virus.
Horse-to-horse contact, aerosol transmission, and contaminated hands, equipment, tack, and feed all play a role in disease spread. They cannot stress enough about the cross contamination, this deadly virus can be on anything - your steering wheel in your truck, door handles, trailer latches, your purse, your hat, sunglasses, cell phone, pop or food wrapper, bucket, feed pan, hay bag, rubber bands, brushes, tack, boots, clothing, ANYTHING you touch or rub against could have the virus on it!
PLEASE monitor your horses, the first symptom of this disease is a spike in temperature of 102 degrees. Horses with severe clinical signs of neurological EHV-1 illness are thought to have large viral loads in their blood and nasal secretions and therefore, present the greatest danger for spreading the disease. Immediate separation and isolation of identified suspect cases and implementation of appropriate biosecurity measures are key elements for disease control.
This is a serious matter that demands immediate attention, becoming aware and knowledge about this detrimental outbreak is a necessity – and we ALL, as equine owners, trainers, and event producers MUST do our part to STOP the spread of this horrible mutant and deadly virus. Serious thought needs to be made on hosting events within infected states and their bordering neighbors. Many national level events that are scheduled within the next month have been CANCELLED to STOP THE SPREAD of this disease.
What to do
1) If any horse stops eating or isn’t eating well, looks quiet or not him/herself take their temperature 2x a day. If fever is noted call your veterinarian for a complete examination. If you are very concerned you may booster your horse with one of the high antigen load killed vaccines licensed for abortion control such as the Pneumabort-K (Pfizer Animal Health) or the Prodigy with Havlogen (Intervet). These vaccines can be administered to any horse whether a mare, gelding or stallion. Reactions are are not commonly associated with these 2 vaccines; occasionally the Pneumabort K has local swelling and pain that resolves uneventfully.
2) If your horse is at a barn where: A) a horse that was at one of the shows that had a confirmed case of EHV-1 is also boarded or B) has actually had a sick horse with the neurological form of EHV-1 you must:
• keep all horses at least 50-100 feet away from that horse who should be isolated,
• your horse can be boostered with the high antigen load killed vaccines licensed for abortion control (Pneumabort-K or Prodigy with Havlogen) or the Modified-live vaccine (Rhinomune, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, which causes greater side effects and reactions),
• take your horses temperature 2 or more times a day (normal is <101F but most cases of EHV-1 have T>102F),
• monitor your horse for any signs of not feeling well, being too quiet, not eating/drinking, dribbling urine, acting uncoordinated or wobbly, or any other neurological signs. If any of these occur call your veterinarian immediately and have your horse tested by nasal swab and whole blood for EHV-1 by PCR.
• If your veterinarian suspects EHV-1 or your horse is confirmed positive by PCR the State Veterinarian must be informed and your horse and barn quarantined.
• Treatment with anti-viral drugs and supportive care must be started the soonest possible. There are 2 anti-viral drugs that can be used (Valtrex and Ganciclovir) and the cost can vary from $150-450/day depending on which drug and which stage of the disease is being treated.
3) If your horse is travelling to a barn or show grounds where infected horses were or may be present: Don’t go. But if you must vaccinating your horse with the high antigen load killed vaccines licensed for abortion control (Pneumabort-K or Prodigy with Havlogen) or the Modified-live vaccine (Rhinomune, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica) 3 to 4 weeks prior to leaving home may be helpful. Upon arrival monitor your horse carefully, take temperature 2-3x /day and be in close contact with a local veterinarian. Treatment with the antiviral drugs can also be implemented during your horse’s stay.
4) If your horse is returning from a barn or show ground where there have been confirmed cases of neurological EHV-1 do not return to your barn for 28 days if possible. If not keep your horse isolated 50-100 feet from all other horses. Vaccinating your horse with the high antigen load killed vaccines licensed for abortion control (Pneumabort-K or Prodigy with Havlogen) or the Modified-live vaccine (Rhinomune, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica) can be done to decrease viral shedding in case your horse is carrying the virus. Vaccinating all other horses in the barn with the high antigen load killed vaccines licensed for abortion control (Pneumabort-K or Prodigy with Havlogen) can help prevent or mitigate potential transmission of the disease.
It has reached Texas as well, and it's spreading fast. Beware.
There has been an outbreak of a horrid equine disease: Rhino EHV-1 (Equine Herpesvirus). This is a mutant strain of the neurological variation of Rhino, there is no vaccine for it, and it is lethal.
There are multiple confirmed deaths due to EHV in Arizona, California, Utah, Colorado, Canada, Idaho, and unfortunately, is spreading like you cannot believe. It is believed that a horse with the virus attended the NCHA Western National Championship cutting in Ogden, UT and has caused a massive cross contamination. All the horses that are dead or are being treated were vaccinated for Rhino, it doesn’t matter, this strain does not respond to any vaccine. The first death was a Canadian cutting horse that attended the Ogden show, there have been more in Weld County Colorado, there is a barrel racing stable in Colorado that has a confirmed case, which shows that it is rapidly and easily spreading through different disciplines and through many venues - CSU is now full and most Vets are not accepting Rhino horses, and have considered worldwide experts in this matter. This is considered an emerging disease. It is behaving in an extreme manor. A similar outbreak occurred before, and at CSU, despite the fact the school runs one of the nation's top veterinary biosecurity programs, the EHV virus spread to over 20 equine patients on the premises, and spread out of control.
The EHV-1 organism spreads quickly from horse to horse and the neurologic form of the virus can reach high morbidity and mortality rates. The incubation period of EHV-1 is typically 2-10 days, but there has been a case of a horse showing symptoms as many as 12 days after contamination. In horses infected with the neurologic strain of EHV-1, clinical signs may include: nasal discharge, discoordination, hind end weakness, recumbency, lethargy, urine dribbling and diminished tail tone. Prognosis depends on severity of signs and the period of recumbency. There is no specific treatment for EHV-1. Treatment of symptoms may include intravenous fluids, anti-inflammatory drugs and other appropriate supportive treatment. Currently, there is no equine vaccine that has a label claim for protection against the neurological strain of the virus.
Horse-to-horse contact, aerosol transmission, and contaminated hands, equipment, tack, and feed all play a role in disease spread. They cannot stress enough about the cross contamination, this deadly virus can be on anything - your steering wheel in your truck, door handles, trailer latches, your purse, your hat, sunglasses, cell phone, pop or food wrapper, bucket, feed pan, hay bag, rubber bands, brushes, tack, boots, clothing, ANYTHING you touch or rub against could have the virus on it!
PLEASE monitor your horses, the first symptom of this disease is a spike in temperature of 102 degrees. Horses with severe clinical signs of neurological EHV-1 illness are thought to have large viral loads in their blood and nasal secretions and therefore, present the greatest danger for spreading the disease. Immediate separation and isolation of identified suspect cases and implementation of appropriate biosecurity measures are key elements for disease control.
This is a serious matter that demands immediate attention, becoming aware and knowledge about this detrimental outbreak is a necessity – and we ALL, as equine owners, trainers, and event producers MUST do our part to STOP the spread of this horrible mutant and deadly virus. Serious thought needs to be made on hosting events within infected states and their bordering neighbors. Many national level events that are scheduled within the next month have been CANCELLED to STOP THE SPREAD of this disease.
What to do
1) If any horse stops eating or isn’t eating well, looks quiet or not him/herself take their temperature 2x a day. If fever is noted call your veterinarian for a complete examination. If you are very concerned you may booster your horse with one of the high antigen load killed vaccines licensed for abortion control such as the Pneumabort-K (Pfizer Animal Health) or the Prodigy with Havlogen (Intervet). These vaccines can be administered to any horse whether a mare, gelding or stallion. Reactions are are not commonly associated with these 2 vaccines; occasionally the Pneumabort K has local swelling and pain that resolves uneventfully.
2) If your horse is at a barn where: A) a horse that was at one of the shows that had a confirmed case of EHV-1 is also boarded or B) has actually had a sick horse with the neurological form of EHV-1 you must:
• keep all horses at least 50-100 feet away from that horse who should be isolated,
• your horse can be boostered with the high antigen load killed vaccines licensed for abortion control (Pneumabort-K or Prodigy with Havlogen) or the Modified-live vaccine (Rhinomune, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, which causes greater side effects and reactions),
• take your horses temperature 2 or more times a day (normal is <101F but most cases of EHV-1 have T>102F),
• monitor your horse for any signs of not feeling well, being too quiet, not eating/drinking, dribbling urine, acting uncoordinated or wobbly, or any other neurological signs. If any of these occur call your veterinarian immediately and have your horse tested by nasal swab and whole blood for EHV-1 by PCR.
• If your veterinarian suspects EHV-1 or your horse is confirmed positive by PCR the State Veterinarian must be informed and your horse and barn quarantined.
• Treatment with anti-viral drugs and supportive care must be started the soonest possible. There are 2 anti-viral drugs that can be used (Valtrex and Ganciclovir) and the cost can vary from $150-450/day depending on which drug and which stage of the disease is being treated.
3) If your horse is travelling to a barn or show grounds where infected horses were or may be present: Don’t go. But if you must vaccinating your horse with the high antigen load killed vaccines licensed for abortion control (Pneumabort-K or Prodigy with Havlogen) or the Modified-live vaccine (Rhinomune, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica) 3 to 4 weeks prior to leaving home may be helpful. Upon arrival monitor your horse carefully, take temperature 2-3x /day and be in close contact with a local veterinarian. Treatment with the antiviral drugs can also be implemented during your horse’s stay.
4) If your horse is returning from a barn or show ground where there have been confirmed cases of neurological EHV-1 do not return to your barn for 28 days if possible. If not keep your horse isolated 50-100 feet from all other horses. Vaccinating your horse with the high antigen load killed vaccines licensed for abortion control (Pneumabort-K or Prodigy with Havlogen) or the Modified-live vaccine (Rhinomune, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica) can be done to decrease viral shedding in case your horse is carrying the virus. Vaccinating all other horses in the barn with the high antigen load killed vaccines licensed for abortion control (Pneumabort-K or Prodigy with Havlogen) can help prevent or mitigate potential transmission of the disease.
It has reached Texas as well, and it's spreading fast. Beware.
