Equine Herpes Virus Outbreak in Texas Appears to Subside
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An outbreak of a neurological disease linked to equine herpes virus appears to have passed,according to the state’s agricultural commissioner.
Outbreak Declared Past Peak
“We’ve passed the tipping point,” Sid Miller, the Texas agriculture commissioner, said in an interview last week. “There’s no new cases for a couple of weeks.”
Continued Vigilance Advised
despite the positive news, Miller cautioned against complacency. He emphasized the importance of maintaining strong biosecurity practices within the equine industry, including regular cleaning of feed and water troughs.
“I bleach down my stalls when I go to a new event,” he said.”Be careful about isolating new horses that come into your stable for a few weeks before they go mingle. We still need to be diligent and use good cowboy logic when it comes to protecting the horses.”
origin and Impact of the Outbreak
The outbreak originated between November 5th and 9th at the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association World Finals and Elite Barrel Race in Waco.
The outbreak caused significant disruption to equine events, leading to numerous postponements.
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Monitoring Situation
the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, scheduled to begin its annual run in January, stated it is “closely monitoring” the situation.
Key Takeaways
- The recent outbreak of equine herpes virus in Texas appears to be over.
- No new cases have been reported in the past two weeks.
- Continued vigilance and strong biosecurity practices are crucial to prevent future outbreaks.
- The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is closely monitoring the situation.