Please be careful, by
Margaret Scarff, President of the Maryland Dressage Association
This may be overkill in sending everyone [this information] about this nasty and deadly virus. I cannot overstate enough that this virus is very contagious. Please be extremely careful in where you are taking you horses, what horses you are allowing on you property and how your horses are being transported.
The state veterinarian has stated that a killed live virus is very effective against the neurological form of this herpes virus. That is something that you and your vet should discuss.
Herpes myeloencephalitis
As this deadly disease is no longer confined to Pimlico Race Track, it is important that all horsemen in the area do what they can to protect their animals and stop the spread of EHV1. The information currently being presented in the media is not based on facts. For instance, news reports cite that the farm in Kent County , which is affected by the disease, is that of a race track trainer. In reality, the farm belongs to Kim Meier-Morani, a MCTA club member and noted Event Rider and Trainer.
This is part of the message from Susan Newton-Rhodes, a friend and boarder at Kim's farm:
I am writing to give you some information and background on what is happening at Kim Meir-Morani's farm in Chestertown, Maryland . As you may know, Kim had to put down one of her horses last Thursday (January 26th) due to suspected EHV -1 (autopsy results will be in this week). The State Vet (Dr. Hohenhaus) upon arrival at the farm immediately quarantined the facility. The transmission of the virus stemmed from a horse that was transported to the farm for training from the Pimlico Race Track. Thus far, Kim has eight horses affected by the virus, 1 -death, 2 - with neurological symptoms (recovering), 4 with temps and no symptoms and 1 which started a temperature (103) yesterday. The horse affected yesterday is my horse.
Please keep Kim in your prayers as she is dealing with a heartbreaking issue that no horse owner should ever have to face. I will keep folks updated as information comes available." You can also check at www.thehorse.com for more information.
The following information was written by Dr. Laura Reilly
(reillylk@vet.upenn.edu)
Herpes myeloencephalitis is a very confusing disease, but here are a few important facts:
- The cause is equine herpes virus 1 (EHV1), which can also cause respiratory signs and abortions. It is also known as rhinopneumonitis.
- The virus is shed in respiratory secretions, and horses get it by inhaling the virus or from contaminated objects such as buckets, tack, etc.
- On a farm, you may have just one horse or almost all of them affected. There may or may not have been known cases of respiratory disease or abortion beforehand. We don't know why some horses develop the neurological disease and others don't, but stress may play a role.
- The signs of the neurological form include fever, incoordination, and weakness, usually most obvious in the hind limbs. There may be weakness of the tail and difficulty urinating and defecating. The horse may go down and be unable to get up. In most cases, the signs show up about a week after exposure to the virus.
- There is no specific treatment for EHV. Some horses recover completely, others do not, and if they are down, the prognosis is poor.
- The vaccine for Rhino does not seem to prevent the neurological disease, although some vets feel it may reduce the number and severity of cases.
So what should we be doing at our own farms?
I think we need to think carefully about moving horses around right now. New horses should be investigated as to where they've been the last few weeks, and then isolated for 2 weeks (not a bad idea in any case). Don't let horses mingle at riding lessons, shows, etc. Disinfect buckets, etc if they have been used by other horses. Monitor horses carefully for signs of disease, and call the vet right away if you suspect a problem, so a diagnosis can be quickly made. Although the vaccine may not prevent the disease, we may want to booster our horses in case it could reduce the severity of illness.
**Note that animals known to be exposed to the virus probably should not be vaccinated - it may make things worse.
Kim Meier-Morani's first-hand account of dealing with the outbreak of EHV1 at her farm - Information she wants all horseman to know.
This time of year there are lots of vans heading south. Make certain that you know who's been on that commercial van recently, if they have disinfected the van, with what disinfectant and how long ago it was disinfected.
A Virus generally cannot live outside of the body for more than 2-3 days.
Don't accept new horses into your barn without checking to make certain that they have come from a facility free of ANY contagious disease for a period of time extending at least 3 weeks. ASK! I STUPIDLY ASSUMED I WOULD BE TOLD IF THE HORSE CAME FROM A PLACE WITH A CONFIRMED FATAL VIRUS!
Common sense rules for bringing in any new equine:
Take the temperature and isolate the new horse for at least 2 weeks.
What to do if your horse has a fever?
Contact your Veterinarian.
The first sign of EHV SEEMS to be an elevated temperature, but the rules regarding Rhino are quite varied. I would isolate and catalog temperatures on any horses suspected of having Rhino; you should contact your veterinarian for any temperature of 102+.
How am I treating the horses on my farm during this epidemic? At the first sign of an elevated temperature, we give 12 (800mg?) tabs Acyclovir (sp) 3x/day. I believe this is human herpes medication. Elevated temperatures average IN MY BARN-(always assume this can vary) for 3 days. Any time during or after this phase, watch for neurological signs, such as:
- a wobbly behind
- unable to back up
- tripping behind (unable to cross legs properly) when turned slowly in small circle
- Fat hind legs may well be a pre-neuro sign
- Dragging hind toes (and front).
It MAY be true that if they "go respiratory" (cough/snot) they won't "go neuro". I don't know, but have been praying for snot and cough anyway.
Neuro signs=BAD. At the onset of neurological signs, we begin jugging with DMSO and, gave Dexmethazone and Banamine along with the acyclovir. At the onset of neurological systems, you have to plan for the worst-case scenario, and it is prudent to move the affected horse(s) into an indoor/ a large shed/broodmare stall/near a big door/garage so if they go down you can get them up and out (this is gross but important-dead or alive.)
I've had 8 horses with elevated temperatures and 3 of these horses developed neurological symptoms. The first horse that was affected on my farm went neuro and was put down 24 hours later. This was my daughters 5 yr old Pony Club horse and a terrible loss for us all. If the horse goes down and can't get up it's nearly over and hardly any make it, or so I've been told. It happens fast, so you have to pay attention.
The second neuro case recovered from the fever and wobbled 24-36 hrs later. She's doing well now. Before she could not put head down to eat (no balance) so we made her a "table", and she had to be catheterized because their bladder can become paralyzed for 2-3 days.
The third neuros early symptoms were confusing, as he began with fat hinds. In hindsight we should have DMSOed right then, but with fat legs we started with Dex and Banamine. 2-3 days later when he began exhibiting definite neurological symptoms we did DMSO. By the way, there is no proof DMSO works, but many veterinarians will still use this drug.
Where are we now?
On February 2, the second neuro case is being weaned off drugs. She wobbled last Wed. She has access to a small paddock with 1 friend and will it will take weeks/months to (hopefully) return to normal.
The case three neuro is better after 2 DMSO jugging days and still in the Indoor. FYI; this is my good eventer Merle, and he was the full brother to my daughters mare that had to be put down.
Bottom line: RESPECT this disease.
The trouble with Pimlico is that they told all track personal, etc, that the EHV1 outbreak was under control, and they allowed horses in and out of the track barns and tracks. They were even planning on racing on the 4 th.
IT IS NEVER UNDER CONTROL UNTIL AFTER THREE WEEKS OF NO SYMPTOMS ON THE ENTIRE, REPEAT ENTIRE PROPERTY.
We don't want any more sick horses. Be notified and be careful.
Date: 2/6/2006
From: DelHParrish@house.state.va.us
Subject update on EHV-1 cases - please forward
A News Release of the Maryland Department of Agriculture
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Sue duPont,410-841-5889 or Kate Wagner, 410-841-5888
Equine Herpesvirus Update on Kent County Farm
ANNAPOLIS, MD (Feb. 3, 2006) - Test results on the horse euthanized last week on a private Kent County farm confirm that the horse was infected with equine herpesvirus (EHV-1). One horse on the farm which was exhibiting neurologic signs appears to be improving and moving toward an anticipated full recovery. One additional horse, which had a fever is now exhibiting neurologic signs for which he is being treated. Initial PCR tests on all clinically affected horses were positive for EHV-1=20
The farm received a horse from Pimlico Race Course on January 10 before track officials closed movement to and from the facility. The Kent County farm is primarily a boarding and training operation for sport horses, not race horses, and is not affiliated with any race track. The Maryland State Veterinarian placed a "Hold Order" on the farm on January 26. The Hold Order will remain in effect for 21 days after the onset of the most recent confirmed case. There has been no movement of horses on or off the farm and there are no other reported cases in Kent County or any other off-track location in Maryland .
Equine herpesvirus-1 (also known as Rhinopneumonitis), which causes upper respiratory infection, can also cause neurological signs. Among the first signs of the illness are unexplained fever and mild to severe ataxia or unsteady balance. There is currently no known method to reliably prevent the neurologic form of EHV-1 infection. It is recommended to maintain appropriate vaccination procedures in an attempt to reduce the incidence of the respiratory form of EHV-1 infection, which may help prevent the neurologic form. Transmission of the virus can occur via coughing or sneezing over a distance of up to 35 feet as well as by direct contact with infected horses, feed and equipment. There is no reason to believe that there is any human health risk.
Private veterinarians with questions or horses with signs they believe may be consistent with equine herpesvirus are asked to call the Maryland Department of Agriculture Animal Health office during business hours at 410-841-5810.
Updates will be posted on the MDA website, www.mda.state.md.us. Additional research and veterinary information about EHV are also posted on that page.
###
Note: The name and location of the farm will not be released by the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
2-03-06 - Update on EHV in Kent County
Update on EHV situation on the Kent County Farm after the above news release went out: According to the attending veterinarian, a total of 8 horses on the farm have been affected by EHV-1: one horse was euthanized; four have had fevers at some point during the course of events but are no longer febrile; the remaining three horses are currently showing various neurologic signs - one of the three has made an almost full recovery, another is improving but is a long way from a full recovery, and the third became neurologic this morning.
http://www.mda.state.md.us/
Kim Meier-Morani's Struggle With Equine Herpesvirus
The below is a letter written by Kim Meier-Morani, the private farm owner in Worton, Md., who has had an outbreak of EHV-1 on her farm. Meier-Morani has been a professional event trainer and coach for more than 30 years. She's competed to the four-star level, and runs Seven Hills Farm, a boarding and training business on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The majority of Meier-Morani's competition horses have been the products of her own small breeding program. Her four-star horse-now infected with EHV-1--is of the third generation of that program.
How has this outbreak of EHV-1 affected me? For starters, I had to sit on the cement aisle of my barn in January, at 6 a.m, with my daughter's homebred not-even-5-year-old mare's head in my lap to cushion it when she spasmed in semi-paralysis for an hour until help came. Then, after the vet promising not to let her smash her face in while I woke my daughter up to tell her her horse wasn't going to make it, I had to watch a 15-year-old stroke and cradle that head while the mare got put down. She was there when we dragged her horse out of the barn and pushed it onto the trailer. There is no easy or pretty way to do that. Then I had to take care of the other 18 horses on the farm, finding a second one in the neurological stage and my own international eventer with a fever. My daughter helped me make the rounds of taking temperatures twice a day, giving medications, and holding the neurological horse as she staggered backwards and flipped over when being catheterized because of a paralyzed bladder. More meds, less sleep. Calls from boarders, wanting to help but nothing they could do. Waiting for my next twice-daily email to see if their horse had a fever, or worse. Dreading getting up to see what was going to be wrong today. Then, the wrong happens to be the horse it's taken me a lifetime to breed, train and learn how to ride; a dream horse who not only had the scope and uncommon ability to make a four star event not only doable but easy, but who was my best friend and soulmate; to have him go neuro. Watching him sway with no balance; the same horse who jumped into the head of the lake at Rolex, but now he can hardly make it across the indoor. Why is he in the indoor? So if he goes down we can more easily drag his body away. So I think about how to make some good come of it. I want to notify all farms receiving horses from a track not yet completely quarantined, but I am told by the Maryland state Department of Agriculture that that's ridiculous.
Ridiculous? Common sense or just plain good manners maybe, but ridiculous?
This decision-maker needs to watch "Outbreak"; he needs to be told how a disease spreads, and that information is the key to prevention. He needs to read the diary of anyone who's ever taken care of a horse who may die tomorrow, no matter what they do. He needs to LISTEN to vets about how the virus is mutating. He needs to educate that a Flu/Rhino shot lasts only 90 days, and make vaccinations at tracks as mandatory as vaccinating your child before they go to school.
Next I hear about how much money the racing industry is losing. If it takes $5,000 a year to keep a horse, then including the year in utero I had $30,000 in my daughters horse, not counting the fact that she was talented and we loved her. It's winter, so I don't teach more than $600 worth a week. I was riding 5 horses in training, or $2500 per month plus $2500 in board. I called off three potential buyers coming to look in the first week alone, at horses priced at $10,$12 and $25K. I may lose my best horse. I may get sued by a boarder should they lose their horse. Do the math.
My life is out of my control. If I had been informed about what was floating around the place a horse came from, I could have been in control of my life and said either sure, I'll risk it, or more likely, no thanks. But I wasn't given that option. What's killing me and my horses may not have come from the track, but using logic and veterinary science and the laws of probability, I'd bet it did.
My friends and boarders are in an uproar to close down the track, and sue Pimlico. But my whole concern is that I DON'T WANT THEM TO MOVE HORSES IN OR OUT because, and this is the point everyone seems to be missing, I don't want anyone else to go through this; it's not fair to the horses or their people. I want it to be mandatory for owners and/or trainers of horses ! coming in, or to receiving barns to be notified that there is a possibility to have contact with the virus. Get it straight that contagious is contagious, and highly contagious or somewhat contagious is dangerous when it can kill you. A little contagious is like a little pregnant; it's a black/white situation.
Maryland State Veterinarian Dr. Guy Hohenhaus says he cannot do that. I think it would take a couple of sheets of plywood and some paint, or half hour at a typewriter and about 15 min with a copier. There was an alleged case in Delaware , which later was confirmed negative. But officials in Delaware already had a plan to close ALL the tracks in the state should it be positive. Every vet I've talked to thinks the system is wrong, that the tracks should be quarantined, and one even outright called it a cover-up. Fact: I had 20 horses, 8 got fevers, 3 went neurological, and one died, so far. One left the property. I was shut down an hour after the death and it was yet undiagnosed.
Pimlico has 500 horses, at least 11 symptomatic and 4 deaths. How many have left or entered the property? How long before they were quarantined?
With the help of my friends and clients, I want to let people know how devastating this disease is, through articles or websites of organizations. I want vets to know how to spot and treat this BEFORE a client's horse gets it, and teach them how to prevent it (no, there are no guaranteed measures, but plenty that can help keep it to a dull roar). I want laws that make it mandatory for any horse exiting a facility housing a potentially deadly virus be accompanied by a paper saying such for the person receiving it. I had a horse ship off my farm 3 days after the first temp here, and the new owners were informed to keep him separate for a while and take his temp, and that was before I had any idea it could be this bad. I did this so no one else's horses got sick. And I thought that's what the Department of Agriculture's job was. |
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