Editor’s note: The following was released by Rusty Ford, Equine Programs Manager at the Kentucky State Veterinarian’s office.
First he noted that from the initial report he provided on 1/7/17 that a few of the published media reports incorrectly interpreted the information provided. “In one publication I saw described the event as being an outbreak at a veterinary hospital. There is not, nor has there been, any veterinary facility quarantined associated with the recent diagnosis of equine herpesvirus in Kentucky.
“A horse residing on a second premises in Oldham County tested positive for EHV-1 (wild strain), following development of a fever on 1/9. There have been no neurologic abnormalities seen. We did earlier today visit the premises and after assessing the facility layout and operation, and the barn where this horse resided was placed under our order of quarantine.
“Horses in all barns on the premises are being monitored daily with temperature logs kept and provided to our office. KDA has and will continue to have personnel on the grounds monitoring activity.
“Samples (nasal swabs and whole blood) were collected from each horse residing in the affected barn and those samples were submitted to the laboratory tonight for EHV testing. Although both premises currently under quarantine are in Oldham County, they are different strains of the virus involved. There is no evidence that the cases related.
The affected horse on the second premiseswas moved to an isolation barn when fever was found and plans are in place to remove him from the premises tomorrow.”
Update on the First Affected Premises
“Results of the testing on side 1 did identify two additional horses positive to EHV-1 having the mutated ORF30 gene. In addition, the horse on side 2 that had spiked a fever late last week tested positive to the same virus strain. All three of these horses were moved from their stabling area and placed in the isolation unit and the population of horses on side 2 were sampled with no additional positives discovered.
“Subsequently, the horse from side 2 that had fever presented with neurological abnormalities on Monday and was moved to isolation at a veterinary hospital for treatment where it continues to improve.
Results of Tracing From Premises One
“All horses that had left the facility have been located and testing completed. Two horses that had moved were identified to be positive (ORF30 mutated gene). These horses are in isolation on private facilities and are being monitored with the established protocol being followed.”
The summary information posted on the Kentucky Department of Agriculture web page at www.kyagr.com/statevet will be updated with the most recent information.
