Below you will find the latest information released by the State of Florida's Dept of Agriculture on the current EHV-1 outbreak. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at the office or drop us an email.
EHV-1 Outbreak and Quarantine Information
March 11, 2013
Revised information is italicized
On February 20th, the Division of Animal Industry (DAI) was notified that a horse participating in the Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) show in Ocala had been referred to the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, after exhibiting clinical neurological signs. The horse tested positive for Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), wild-type strain. That horse had been housed in Tent 7 on the HITS Showgrounds which prompted a quarantine of the tent. The horse remains at the university and is in stable condition.
DAI veterinarians began monitoring horses at HITS and tracing exposed horses that had left the showgrounds. As a result of the investigations, five additional horses were found to be positive for EHV-1. Those horses were housed in Tents 3 and 6 adjacent to Tent 7. One horse is under quarantine at Redfield Farm in Ocala. Four horses were placed under quarantine at Miles Away Farm in Loxahatchee. One of these four horses developed neurological signs and was transported to the University of Florida.
With concern that the outbreak was more widespread, the entire HITS Showgrounds was placed under quarantine on February 27th. Movement of horses on or off the showgrounds is prohibited. The quarantine will remain in effect for a minimum of 21 days from the last exposure (February 20th). Any horse showing febrile, respiratory, or neurological signs will be tested. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' personnel are manning the gates of the showgrounds 24 hours a day.
Another horse associated with the HITS Showgrounds, which never showed any clinical signs of EHV-1, has tested positive. This horse is located at Calder Farms in Ocala.
Additional exposed horses that had been stabled in Tents 3, 6 and 7 and moved prior to the HITS quarantine have been placed under quarantine around the state. The following is a list of facilities that are currently under quarantine.
Quarantined Farms/Premises**
- HITS Showgrounds, Ocala - Entire facility
- Up Country Farm/Synergy Farm, Ocala
- Montera Farm, Ocala
- Flutterby Farm, Ocala
- Foxwood Farms, Pinellas Park
- Black Forest Farm, St. Augustine
- Brookmore Farm, Oviedo
- Kings Ridge Farm, Reddick
- Redfield Farm, Ocala
- Miles Away Farm, Loxahatchee
- Calder Farms, Ocala
- Hard Ford Farm, Reddick
- Chestnut Hill Farm (Wisconsin based farm, Ocala temporary location)
**The quarantines listed above do not necessarily encompass the entire premises.
Premises Released from Quarantine
- FEI tent at Wellington Showgrounds - February 28, 2013
o The quarantine was initially placed due to two potentially exposed horses that had moved to the tent from Tequestrian Farm and subsequently moved back to Tequestrian Farm the same day. These horses were tested the next day and were negative for EHV-1. The quarantine was released due to these two horses being in the FEI tent for a short period of time and testing negative for the virus, indicating no exposure occurred.
- Tequestrian Farm - March 4, 2013
o The farm was initially quarantined due a horse testing positive for EHV-1. This horse was imported from another state and isolated at the farm on arrival. No connection was made between this horse and the HITS Showgrounds' EHV-1 cases. The horse never developed neurological signs and the quarantine was released after fourteen days with no evidence of transmission, no clinical signs on the farm, and all horses testing negative on the premises.
- POD-F Farm, Wellington
o A single horse which had been housed in Tent 7 at HITS Showgrounds and subsequently moved to Wellington completed testing (negative test results) and was released from quarantine 21 days after last date of exposure. This horse never tested positive or developed clinical signs of EHV-1.
Known State Movement Restriction for Horses
California requirements include a negative test for Equine Infectious Anemia, obtained within the six (6) months before date of entry, and a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) with a body temperature recorded for each horse in the shipment. Accredited veterinarians preparing CVIs are responsible for fulfillment of the temperature recording
requirement.
We are advising horse owners and trainers to contact the venue of destination for any additional requirements prior to travel. Several equestrian events have instituted additional requirements for horses entering the show/competition. These may include shortened dating of Certificates of Veterinary Inspection or specific vaccination requirements.
Recommendations for horses that have shown at HITS since February 5, 2013 include close monitoring of animals, reporting of fevers greater than 101.5oF (38.6oC) and strict bio-security measures for at least 21 days after departure from HITS.
Sample collection for testing was performed at tents 3, 6, and 7 with the results anticipated this evening. Additionally, several premises with quarantines outside of the HITS Showground also collected samples to allow for release of their quarantines after 21 days, if all tests are negative. Over 200 horses were tested.
We are asking all those in the equine community to practice prudent bio-security on their farm and to report any suspected cases of EHV-1. For reporting, you may call 850-410-0900 Monday through Friday 8:00am-5:00pm and 1-800-342-5869 after hours and weekends.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will continue to work with HITS management, trainers, and veterinarians to ensure proper safeguards are taken to prevent further spread of the disease.
Frequent informational updates will be provided, so please continue to visit this Website regularly at: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/ai/.
Additional Resources
More information on the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) can be found at the following Websites:
- American Association of Equine Practitioners,
http://www.aaep.org/health_articles.php?category=Equine+Herpesvirus+%28EHV%29
- Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky,
http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/BiblioEHV1.asp
- University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine.
http://extension.vetmed.ufl.edu/files/2012/02/EHV-June-2011.pdf
Bio-security information, to help reduce the risk of spread contagious and infectious diseases can be found at the following Websites:
- American Association of Equine Practitioners,
http://www.aaep.org/pdfs/control_guidelines/Biosecurity_instructions%201.pdf
http://www.aaep.org/ehv_resources.htm
http://www.aaep.org/health_articles_view.php?id=370
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA, APHIS).
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdf