EVH - no warnings/advice, grrrr!

[Trish C]

Worryingly, a yard in the same area as us has been confirmed as having several cases of EVH (not too close but close enough to make us a bit wary). We heard the rumour yesterday then our vet confirmed it for us today. Not sure what strain it is but both our source for the rumour and the vet mentioned paralysis. It's thought that the yard may have lost a couple of horses to it but vet couldn't confirm this (he's not that yard's vet).

The annoying thing is that, although it's an airborne virus, there's apparently no process for reporting/warning other yards/horse owners (other than word of mouth), and absolutely no advice at all for preventative measures/symptoms etc. Even the local vets have been given no advice or warnings - again it's just been word of mouth between them

The yard with the problem has closed for business (their own decision, had they wanted to continue there would've been no-one to force them to cease trading apparently) but the village gymkhana still ran at the weekend. Can't help feeling that's asking for trouble.

We should be fine - we're going to be very careful about even hacking out for a little while and luckily we don't have anyone showing/competing atm so it's a very static herd. Vet said he wouldn't vaccinate just yet, but if there are any other cases confirmed from yards other than the one that's already infected, we will.

Is it a notifiable/controlled disease elsewhere?

 

[Foxhunter49]

Not as far as I know.

As majority of horses have been exposed to EHV it would seem pointless to have it as a notifiable disease.

EHV1 is the mutation that causes the paralysis and that usually comes about through stress.
There are inoculations you can give a horse but in all honesty they are not very effective, usually only given to pregnant mares