A Saskatchewan horse has been diagnosed with the contagious neurotropic equine herpes virus-1, a new severe strain of the virus that has hit Western Canada and the United States.
The horse, from the Moosomin area, tested positive May 30 for nEHV-1 after attending a cutting horse show in Lloydminster May 14-15. It is recovering under the care of a veterinarian.
Provincial veterinarian Greg Douglas said some of the horses at the show had also attended a show in Ogden, Utah, where an outbreak occurred several weeks earlier.
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He said 75 cases have been reported in nine western states, and Alberta has had 10 confirmed cases. British Columbia has also been affected.
At least 50 Saskatchewan horses were at the Lloydminster show, plus many others.
Horse owners are encouraged to adopt strict biosecurity measures.
“It’s important that they take committed efforts to keeping those horses separate from any other animal,” Douglas said.
The horses that were in Lloydminster are considered at high risk and should be isolated for 28 days after the show.
All horses that were subsequently in contact with horses from the show should also be isolated.
Equine herpes is common, but nEHV-1 is more severe.
“It seemingly has a propensity to go to the nerves of the horse and create neurological clinical signs, where the horse can get very weak, and it also can become paralyzed,” Douglas said.
The disease can be fatal in rare cases.
