Stadium Jumping Inc. hosted a meeting in The Jockey Club at the Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds in Florida today (Jan. 4) to discuss the equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak. Approximately 500 concerned horse owners and professionals attended, and many pertinent questions were asked of the panel.

Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, former head of Internal Medicine at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky., was brought in to monitor the progress and process by which the EHV-1 is being handled in Wellington. Dr. Byars is considered an expert on the virus and was invited to give his independent perspective. He explained that he thought the community has been doing a good job of limiting the spread of the virus and remarked, “You are within days of this disease running its course.” 

Most of the questions asked of Byars and the dozens of veterinarians in attendance were in regard to a timeframe for safe entry into and out of the area. Byars said the areas outside of the state-mandated quarantine could go about normal business safely. The horses in quarantined areas may be released safely 21 days after the last positive test. That countdown clock is rapidly coming to an end.

The quarantine facilities will be monitored and cleared to open on an individual basis depending on the health of their residents. He explained that EHV-1 is fragile and if treated appropriately, it will go away and no longer be an issue for the coming season