Two confirmed equine deaths in the past week—one in California and one in Florida—are suspected to be caused by an outbreak of equine rhinopneumonitis, or EHV-1, the equine herpes virus.

Grand Prix riders Debbie Stephens, Wellington, Fla., and Sharn Wordley, Beullton, Calif., both lost horses to what is believed to be the neurological strain of the disease. In response to the outbreak, Stadium Jumping Inc., cancelled this weekend\’s AGA Championships and Christmas Festival Show, Dec. 15-17, at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club.

Both horses are linked to a shipment of horses that arrived from Europe through agent Tim Dutta. They entered quarantine at the New York Animal Import Center in Newburgh, N.Y.

“There were 15 horses on that shipment, all of which were examined carefully before they left the facility, and declared healthy when they left the facility,” said Karen Eggert, USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service spokesperson.

“The Newburgh facility practices good biosecurity protocol. State and federal officials traced the EHV-1 case reported in Wellington, Fla., and reviewed Newburgh\’s documents, and are confident that the 15 horses on that shipment were healthy when they left the facility,” she added.

Trainer Joe Norick, Wellington, Fla., shipped five of the horses to his farm on Nov. 29, including a pony that arrived with symptoms of a respiratory ailment and a low-grade fever.

“Initially, everything looked good,” said Norick. “The pony looked like it had shipping fever, though. It was here one day and then I sent it to Dr. [Hayes] Stevens\’ Palm Beach Equine Clinic. They put the pony on antibiotics and treated it. It did have some lung problems.”

At the time, neither Norick nor the clinic suspected EHV-1, although the pony was isolated as is standard procedure at the clinic. Several days after arriving, however, the pony began to show neurological impairment.

Norick said almost concurrently he noticed other horses in the barn where the pony had been stabled began to exhibit flu-like symptoms. “I immediately closed down the barn,” he said. “This was about four to five days after the horses had arrived. I knew something was going through the barn, so I started my own quarantine.

“I have three barns on the property, so I was careful that there was no cross contamination,” he explained. “Everything for every horse was separated, from thermometers on. We even had a footbath going, and people changed their clothes if a horse sneezed on them.”

One of the affected horses in Norick\’s barn was Stephens\’ Cosequin\’s CEO, a horse she bred and raised and competed at the grand prix level. CEO was shipped to the Palm Beach Equine Clinic but was later euthanized on Dec. 10 due to the severity of his illness.

Wordley reported that a horse he also imported from Europe that went through quarantine in Newburgh died after it arrived in California. On its way to the West Coast, the horse spent time at West Wind Training Center in Tennessee.

“The horse came in from Europe on a flight with the host horse,” said Wordley. “No other horses here in California have gotten sick, though. All my other horses are OK.”

Norick\’s barn has now been quarantined for 12 days, and he reported no other horses have shown symptoms and the pony is improving. “I\’ll keep my barn quiet until at least the beginning of the year, until it\’s truly clear and everyone\’s healthy,” he said.

The EHV-1 organism spreads quickly from horse to horse and can cause respiratory problems especially in young horses, spontaneous abortions in pregnant mares, and the neurological form of the virus can reach high morbidity and mortality rates. The incubation period of EHV-1 is typically two to 10 days but may be as long as two weeks. There is no cure for the disease. Quarantine is the most effective strategy once an outbreak occurs.

The most recent major outbreak occurred in New Jersey in late October when more than 1,000 horses at Monmouth Park were quarantined in the wake of positive test results on at least one horse for the neuropathogenic strain of the equine herpes virus.

On Saturday, Dec. 16, USDA Government Veterinarian Julie Gauthier will meet with equestrians, community members and members of the media to discuss the equine rhinopneumonitis virus.

The meeting with Dr. Gauthier will be held at 10 a.m. in the Jockey Club at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club on Pierson Rd. in Wellington, Fla. The Jockey Club, also referred to as the VIP tent, is located adjacent to the large, grass Internationale Arena.

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