On February 12, the World Equestrian Center posted a news release that stated that three horses on the grounds had been confirmed with equine influenza and had been placed in quarantine on Sunday, February 10. The horses are currently under the supervision of Dr. Holly Helbig. According to the venue, those horses tested negative for Streptococcus equi (strangles), EHV-1 and EHV-4. All of the horses were reported to be up-to-date on equine influenza vaccinations.
The news release from the World Equestrian Center stated that the management will continue to observe all recommended biosecurity measures and will continue to disinfect and sterilize stabling, wash racks, walkways and common areas on the horse show grounds.
The release said Helbig will test any horse that exhibits clinical signs of flu.
If anyone has questions about the World Equestrian Center, they are encouraged to contact horse show manager Brandon Saxton at 216-554-2049 or horse show veterinarian Dr. Holly Helbig at 330-807-2643.
The World Equestrian Center recommended that horse owners and caregivers observe good biosecurity and adhere to vaccination schedules.
Hamilton County, Indiana
On February 13, attending veterinarians alerted the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) of multiple cases of equine influenza in Hamilton and Ripley Counties in Indiana. Some of the Indiana influenza cases were in horses that had recently attended events at the World Equestrian Center in Ohio.
One facility in Hamilton County, Indiana, is in a voluntary quarantine after two horses tested positive for equine influenza. The first is an 8-year-old warmblood mare that exhibited clinical signs of coughing, fever and nasal discharge. The horse is alive and under the care of a veterinarian. The second horse is a 20-year-old warmblood mare that exhibited clinical signs of coughing, fever and nasal discharge. The horse is alive and under the care of a veterinarian.
The EDCC noted that these horses recently returned from the World Equestrian Center in Ohio.
Also on February 13, an attending veterinarian alerted the EDCC of three cases of equine influenza on a different premises in Hamilton County, Indiana. There was no report whether these horses had been to the World Equestrian Center.
There have been three facilities in Hamilton County, Indiana, that have reported equine influenza this year. The first report was on February 6 from an attending veterinarian who reported one case of equine influenza in a 10-year-old gelding.
Ripley County, Indiana
An attending veterinarian notified the EDCC of three cases of equine influenza on a premises in Ripley County, Indiana, on February 13. All of the affected horses were alive. There was no report whether these horses had been to the World Equestrian Center.
Previous Reported Flu
In January 2019, there were two reported flu cases in California and one in Washington state.
There have been numerous confirmed European outbreaks of the influenza virus in Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland and Nigeria since the beginning of the year. For more information read this interview with Dr. Tom Chambers and this information from the FEI.
