11-27 IAN Equine Herpes

 Equine owners in Franklin County are being cautious and vigilant after three horses were euthanized across the Utah border in Cache Valley. The horses showed signs of the deadly and highly contagious herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDOF) has quarantined the Cache County farm where the animals with neurological signs consistent with the disease were found.

Because of the contagious nature of this disease, other cases could surface in coming days. Horse owners are advised to report symptoms to a veterinarian.I chatted with veterinarian,Dr. Marilyn Simunish.  “How can the risk of herpes be minimized? That is an easy answer.  Use preventative medicine. When you are out in public maintain some distance between your horse and other horses whose histories you do not know as it relates to vaccinating against herpes. can one vaccinate against herpes?  There are vaccines but there are no guarantees about the neurologic form. The  researcher folks are the only ones that can explain why they haven’t gotten  a vaccine against the neurologic form. That said, that is the best we can do and we recommend that people get their horses vaccinated. Contact their veterinarians who know the most about their animals. It is easy to prevent and harder to bury.”