SEVERAL MORE HORSES HAVE CONTRACTED A POTENTIALLY FATAL VIRUS OVER THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS. EQUINE HERPES FIRST SHOWED UP IN CALIFORNIA THIS PAST SPRING, AND THERE ARE NOW 22 CONFIRMED CASES IN 12 DIFFERENT COUNTIES AROUND THE STATE. 2 OF THE HORSES ARE DEAD, AND THE OTHERS ARE ALL QUARANTINED. THIS OUTBREAK WAS TRACED TO A HORSE SHOW IN UTAH.
ALTHOUGH THE VIRUS CANNOT BE TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS, IT IS EASILY TRANSMITTED BETWEEN HORSES, VIA SHARING FEED, TACK AND JUST THE AIR BETWEEN THE ANIMALS. THERE IS NO VACCINE, AND THE EQUINE HERPES CAN LEAD TO NEUROLOGICAL ISSUES, PARALYSIS, RESPIRATORY ILLNESS, AND MISCARRIAGES.
