PC: Kaur Ilves/cc/flickr
The Equine Disease Communication Center recently confirmed on their website that a five-year-old Saddlebred in Los Angeles was euthanized for severe neurological symptoms of Equine Herpes Virus, or EHV-1. The horse had previously been competing at South Point Arena in Las Vegas in late October, which is of some concern for west coast hunter jumpers headed to the Las Vegas National in less than a week.
The EDCC released the following statement:
“On November 3, 2016, a 5 year-old Saddlebred displaying severe neurologic signs and a 10 year-old Saddlebred in Los Angeles County displaying moderate neurologic signs were confirmed positive for the non-neuropathogenic strain Equine Herpesvirus-1 at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory. Due to severity of clinical signs, the 5 year-old horse was euthanized on November 3, 2016. The Department has issued a quarantine for exposed horses at the facility and has implemented enhanced biosecurity measures.
All exposed horses will have temperatures taken twice daily and be observed for clinical signs compatible with EHV. The two confirmed positive horses, along with four other horses, recently returned from a horse show in Las Vegas, NV from Oct. 27-29, 2016. These horses returned to the California home premises on October 30.
Out of an abundance of caution, show management has notified trainers/owners participating in the event to recommend twice daily temperature monitoring and observation of compatible clinical signs. CDFA Animal Health Branch veterinarians are onsite monitoring the situation and will provide additional updates as they become available.”
Blenheim Equisports, the event management company hosting the Las Vegas National, has also subsequently released a statement of their own detailing the extreme measures they’re taking to ensure a healthy environment, including a complete disinfecting of the stabling and showing spaces, complete replacement of the footing in the arena and warm-up areas, and an eight day isolation period where no animals will be on-site.
Their full statement is below:
“Las Vegas, NV – November 6, 2016 – In light of the recently confirmed non-neuropathogenic strain EHV-1 cases in California, which occurred in horses that had attended a Saddlebred show held at South Point Arena & Equestrian Center from October 27 – 29, 2016, the Management, under the guidance of Leslie Schur, DVM and the State of Nevada officials, has ensured that all precautions and disinfecting measures have been taken.
- As suggested and approved by the state veterinarian, a full wash and sanitizing of all the stall areas using Synbiont Agricultural wash took place after all horses left the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center on the morning of October 30th, 2016.
- Since the sanitation took place, no animals have been in the stall or barn areas. The area will remain animal free for 8 days.
- Prior to the start of the Las Vegas National CSI4*-W horse show, Blenheim EquiSports will be doing a full footing replacement, bringing in materials that have not been used during the show in question.
“I have been working closely with the staff of the South Point Equestrian Center and state officials to implement the appropriate biosecurity protocols with the recently confirmed cases of EHV-1. Their entire staff has been vigilant with their primary concern being the safety and well-being of the horses. Based on consultations with industry experts, officials have deemed the facility safe for horses to return,” said Leslie Schur, DVM of Desert Pines Equine Center.
With these protocols in place, Show Management is confident that the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center has been fully sanitized and it is safe to proceed as planned with the upcoming Las Vegas National CSI4*-W horse show, November 15-20, 2016.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please call Melissa Brandes at (949) 212-8556. Visit showpark.com for the latest updates on The 2016 Las Vegas National CSI4*-W horse show.”
Since the EDCC’s initial statement, three additional Saddlebred horses have been confirmed cases, all present at the same show. No additional euthanizations have been reported. We will keep you updated if any additional information becomes available, but we suspect no additional developments will impact the Las Vegas National.
Go Jumping.