b'EHV-1: THEN AND NOWmore outbreaks, or are they more vis-ible because there is more consistent reporting?The regulatory response to a report-able disease varies from no regulatory action (strictly monitoring) to establish-ing an official quarantine of infected and exposed animals, says Flynn. To address the identified need for consensus, the United States Animal Health Associations Infectious Diseases of Horses Committee (now called Committee on Equine) estab-lished an EHV-1 subcommittee to develop a consensus document related to the ISABELLE BEAU DE LOMENIEEHV-1 regulatory mitigation. The consen-sus guidance document provides SAHOs with science- and field-experience-based control guidance for an EHM incident. The guidance document, initially pub-lished in 2015, was revised in 2018 (find itVeterinarians urge owners to clean and disinfect communal areas and shared equipment frequently. at usaha.org/infectious-diseases-of-horses)Wear protective clothing and gloves if you know a sick horse has been in contact with surfaces.based on new findings of regulatory of-ficials during recent EHV-1 responses. neurologic form, Traub-Dargatz says.management beyond vaccination: Vacci-In 2016 the AAEP and American HorseNone of the current vaccines carry thatnation in general is critical to the control Council launched the Equine Diseaseon their licensing documentation. On aof infectious disease, but I think we also Communication Center (EDCC), a re- population basis, if we use a vaccine thatneed to be good stewards in other areas, source that assists the horse industry inhas been licensed and certified to reduceincluding less stressful transportation, staying abreast of reliable information.viral shedding, maybe we can reduce riskmeeting the micronutrient needs of our There was a definite need for a national, of exposure to a certain extent.horses, and keeping horses as comfortable reliable, credible source of information, soShe says existing EHV-1 vaccines areand happy as possible while at events.the industry came together to develop theeither licensed to:EDCC, says Traub-Dargatz. People can Reduce risk of respiratory disease only;Enhanced Biosecurity sign up to get an email notification when Reduce risk of respiratory disease andKeeping horses healthy on the road there are outbreaks and check travel re- abortion; orand at home requires implementing bi-quirements and quarantines. The majority Reduce risk of viral shedding.osecurity measures. Organizers of many of SAHOs now submit their press releasesEach is a somewhat higher bar, sheequestrian events have enacted rigorous on selected diseases to the EDCC. says.protocols in light of recent outbreaks. Veterinarians also face unansweredThere have been a lot of changes questions. Data show horses that re- over the last few years, says Heather Lack of isolation ceived an EHV vaccine in the five weeksPetersen, CEO of 2 White Feet Inc., an or inappropriateprior to the Ogden event were actually atequine event management business that an increased risk of EHM, says Traub- organizes various Fdration Equestre isolation stabling forDargatz. We can say thats an association,Internationale (FEI) and United States test-positive equidswe cant say its causal, but it does makeEquestrian Federation (USEF) dressage you wonder if in certain horses recent vac- competitions. She says recent biosecurity poses a real challengecination somehow altered their responsedevelopments include:to regulatory officials. when they were exposed to the virus. Stricter vaccination requirements. For In the Findlay outbreak there was anexample, horses attending USEF com-DR. KATIE FLYNN association with frequent EHV vaccina- petitions must have proof of equine tion and EHM cases, but this was in olderinfluenza and EHV vaccination within (You can also read about EDCC alerts,horses, so the vaccination history wasthe prior six months before entering the along with additional vetted equine dis- confounded by the horses age, she adds. grounds. Horses that cannot tolerate ease information, on TheHorse.com.)On the whole, she recommends work- the vaccine must have their tempera-ing with your veterinarian to tailor a ture recorded twice daily for seven days Vaccination Conundrums Remain vaccine plan for your horses, as well as re- prior to entering the grounds to ensure What we would ideally have is a vac- ferring to the AAEPs vaccine recommen- theyre healthy. FEI requirements go a cine that would be licensed to preventdations (https://tinyurl.com/y3aqwjo7). step further, with vaccination no more the most severe form of the disease, theBut its crucial to think aboutthan seven days prior.30August 2019The Horse | TheHorse.com'