The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) is closely monitoring the recent confirmed cases of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) in Texas and Oklahoma. Currently, NO cases of EHV-1 have been reported in Alabama.
If your horse attended the World Championship Barrel Racing Finals in Waco, Texas (November 5–9) or the Barrel Futurities of America World Championship in Guthrie, Oklahoma (November 14–18), where EHV-1 exposure has been confirmed, please take the following immediate steps:
- Isolate the horse(s) from all other horses for a minimum of 21 days upon return to Alabama.
- Monitor twice daily for clinical signs of EHV-1, including:
- Fever (>101.5°F / 38.6°C)
- Nasal discharge
- Coughing
- Neurological signs (hindlimb weakness, ataxia, toe dragging, “dog-sitting” posture, urine dribbling, or fecal incontinence)
If any of these signs are observed, immediately contact your private veterinarian and ADAI's State Veterinarian’s Office at (334) 240-7253.
EHV-1 is highly contagious and spreads primarily through direct horse-to-horse contact via respiratory secretions, aerosolized droplets, and indirect contact with contaminated equipment, water buckets, feed, tack, or human hands/clothing. Humans do not become ill from EHV-1 but can mechanically transmit the virus between horses.
Strict biosecurity remains the most effective means of preventing introduction and spread. Key measures include:
- Disinfection of all shared equipment and surfaces with appropriate virucidal products.
- Limiting unnecessary horse movement, especially for animals with recent travel history to affected areas.
- Implementing isolation protocols for any new or returning horses.
For more information, please visit the websites below.
https://equinediseasecc.org/infectious-diseases
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/.../Anima.../Equine_Biosecurity.html