Monthly Discussion- November
The recent outbreak of EHV-1 and EHM is very serious and is causing barns and boarding facilities to go into quarantine and multiple shows are shutting down. This virus spreads very easily through breathing the same air, contaminated tack, or contact between two horses. Once your horse is in contact with it, things can get scary and escalate very quickly. Horses will be showing symptoms of fever, nasal discharge, coughing, not wanting to eat, weak limbs, and incoordination. It can also cause abortions of pregnant mares and paralysis. If your horse is showing symptoms of EHV-1, isolate your horse immediately, contact the vet, and monitor your horse constantly. Take their temperature twice daily and make sure the symptoms are not getting worse. You will need to quarantine your horse for at least 21 days from the last time your horse was in contact with an infected horse. Hygiene is the biggest thing when it comes to this. Make sure you are washing your hands thoroughly, using hand sanitizer, and changing your clothes after handling the sick horse and before interacting with any other horses that may not be showing symptoms of EHV-1. Designate equipment for the sick horse doesn't leave the quarantined area to prevent cross-contamination. Beyond individual action, facility-wide protocols are essential. This includes restricting movement of all horses on and off the property ,creating clear boundaries for quarantine areas, and ensuring that everyone who interacts with the horses understands and follows the strict hygiene rules. Limiting visitors and unnecessary personnel is also a critical step in containing the spread. Educational efforts within the horse community are vital to help everyone understand the severity and the necessary preventative measures. Early detection and responsible action by all horse owners are the only ways to effectively manage and lessen the spread of this deadly disease in the horse community. EHM is the neurological version EHV-1. EHM damages the brain and spinal cord. Less severe cases may have partial recovery though some may experience long-term problems about 60 to 70% recover while the other 30% can be fatal. EHM develops when EHV-1 causes inflammation and damages to blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord. This is a very scary and serious time for everybody so if there are any symptoms at all, contact your vet immediately for the highest chance of recovery.