On March 14 Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) and Palm Beach Equine Clinic, the official veterinarians of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), in Wellington, Florida, announced that they’d received confirmation from a competitor’s veterinarian that a horse stabled off the show grounds had tested positive for equine influenza.

A statement from ESP and the PBIEC said the horse has been isolated along with other in-contact horses under the supervision of their veterinarian. The horse was appropriately vaccinated and is no longer febrile or showing clinical signs of disease.

The horse tested negative for equine herpesvirus (EHV) and strangles, and at this time there are no confirmed cases of equine herpesvirus at WEF. As it has always been the standard practice, ESP and Palm Beach Equine Clinic, along with competitors’ veterinarians, are prepared to isolate and test any further horses with fevers of unknown origin and will update competitors as necessary.

“We thank everyone for being responsible in reporting such cases,” ESP said in its statement. “As competitors are vaccinating this time of year to prepare for travel leaving Wellington, fevers may happen. We remind all competitors the importance of hygiene and biosecurity, with suggested protocols listed below