A horse at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center has been tested and received a negative result for EHV-1. The horse was previously stabled in Barn 7 at the HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Fla., and due to that circumstance and an initial symptom of fever, the horse was proactively put into isolation by Equestrian Sport Productions, management company of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, where the horse is competing.
ESP management met with Dr. Scott Swerdlin and Dr. Kathleen Timmons of Palm Beach Equine Clinic, Dr. Kit Miller, the horse’s treating veterinarian, and Dr. Cristina Anzures of the Florida Department of Agriculture to discuss the situation and what measurements would be taken.
The horse that is currently in isolation arrived at the PBIEC grounds on the evening of Monday, Feb. 19. When the horse ran a fever on the afternoon of Feb. 22, the horse’s vet, Dr. Kit Miller, contacted horse show management. Due to the horse’s proximity to the positive case in Ocala and initial fever symptom, Dr. Miller performed a swab and whole blood for PCR testing, which was sent to the EDS lab in Lexington, Ky., along with the batch of samples from the horses still in quarantine in Ocala.
On the afternoon of Feb. 22, ESP management chose to move the horse into an isolated tent on PBIEC property without state recommendation. The horse and all of its equipment was moved to the isolated tent in “Pod F” of PBIEC property.
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Dr. Miller was contacted by the Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Industry veterinarian, Dr. Cristina Anzures. Dr. Anzures arrived at PBIEC and was shown the the horse in isolation as well as the original tent where it was stabled. Quarantine was enacted on the two aisles of the original tent due to proximity to other horses in the tent. ESP placed a security guard at the aisles of the quarantined tent, a perimeter around the tent was formed, and biosecurity such as hand and foot sanitation was enforced.
As of 3 p.m. on Feb. 23, the results were received and found negative for the horse in isolation at PBIEC. The horse will stay in isolation until released by the State veterinarian. The quarantine at the original tent at PBIEC has been lifted upon Department of Agriculture recommendation.
All of the horses that are still under quarantine in Barn 7 in Ocala had negative tests. The only horse that tested positive in Ocala is still being treated at the University of Florida.
