Recently there have been several confirmed cases of EHV-1 in Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. There is also one confirmed case in Iowa and one in Colorado.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection reported on April 8 that a St. Croix County horse tested positive for the non-neuropathic strain of EHV-1, though he is recovering. This is the second horse in the state of Wisconsin to test positive for the virus.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has confirmed that there have been seven cases of the virus in the state as of April 14. Of the seven cases, two have been euthanized. The last positive case was reported on March 29, in a horse in Wright County. Counties that are currently affected include: Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Freeborn and Wright.
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As of April 11, the North Dakota Department of Agriculture has reported three cases that tested positive for the virus in Burleigh County. According to the NDDA, the first case was diagnosed in February but was not reported due to the use of an out-of-state lab. Two of the cases come from the same barn, while the third was located on a different property.
On April 2, the Iowa Department of Agriculture reported that a single case of EHV-1 was discovered in a Marion, Iowa, horse. The horse was located at the Crystal Creek Equine Center, and no update on his condition was available. On April 1, the Colorado state veterinarian’s office announced an EHV-1 case in a Larimer County horse. That horse is also recovering.
All horse owners are to be reminded that the spread of the virus can be minimized by limiting contact with other horses, keeping all shared equipment disinfected, and isolating and monitoring horses that recently traveled.
