Some reports about the equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak–believed to have stemmed from horses attending the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah–have suggested that horses at this event exhibited signs of infectious disease. However, upon review of cases examined by Ellis G. Farstvedt, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, there was no indication of infectious disease in the horses that presented for evaluation this year at CSR Equine Sports Medicine Center in Bozeman, Mont.

According to Farstvedt, "We’ve seen febrile and sick horses in past years, but not this year." When presented with a febrile horse at an event, the staff at CSR take all measures to obtain a definitive diagnosis, initiate treatment as quickly as possible, notify the owners of the potential for a contagious disease, and consult on the proper precautions to take.

Farstvedt said it is relatively common to see a small number of horses present with a fever at an event of this size and duration. The exact source of the EHV-1 outbreak is still unknown.