Effective Oct. 31, elective equine admissions at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University were temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure to control risks related to equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).

The suspension is in response to the late evening confirmation of EHV-1 affecting two horses at the hospital that were not initially being treated for the disease on Oct. 30. The virus, which is contagious through contact and through aerosols, can be controlled by restricting contact and with stringent decontamination of hospital facilities. The virus cannot be transmitted to humans.

“We believe that we can resume routine hospital activities within two weeks,” said Dr. Martin Fettman, interim hospital director. “As an additional precaution, veterinarians from the hospital are contacting all owners of horses that could possibly have been exposed at the facility.”

EHV-1 is closely related to the virus that causes cold sores in people. Research shows that all horses in the world are believed to be infected within the first year of life. Like a cold sore in humans, this virus stays in infected horses for life. Many, if not most, of these infections occur with only mild or no detectable clinical signs