A widespread outbreak of a neurological horse virus has rocked the U.S. equine sector, leading to event cancellations, travel restrictions, and increasing anxiety among horse owners and veterinarians.
The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) has linked the surge in equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) to the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association World Finals and Elite Barrel Race, which took place Nov. 5-9 in Waco, Texas.
By Nov. 22, 19 verified EHM cases were traced to the event, along with other non-neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) instances in Oklahoma, Washington, and Arizona.
Infections have appeared in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, South Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Washington. EDCC data show Texas has the most neurologic EHM cases, 11, and two animals had to be euthanized. A lone verified EHM case in Maryland on Nov. 18 has not been linked to the Waco outbreak….