Second positive in Mich.

On Dec. 20, further lab testing in Michigan determined that another racehorse in a quarantined barn at Northville Downs tested positive for equine herpes virus 1 (EHV-1), a variant of the virus that can cause respiratory infection, abortion or neurological disease in equine.



Back on Dec. 8, animal health surveillance detected a horse exhibiting symptoms of illness at Northville Downs. On Dec. 14, further testing at the state's Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health on the Michigan State University (MSU) campus showed the horse had equine herpes virus 1 (EHV-1).



While this disease is not transmissible to humans or other animals, it is very contagious among horses and can cause them severe illness and death. It can be spread by close contact aerosol or in rarer cases by organic materials on clothes or equipment. Contaminated feed or water may also spread the virus. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose or neurological signs and typically appear within 21 days of potential exposure.



Michigan animal health, racing commission and racetrack officials have taken immediate steps and safeguards to contain and prevent the spread of the disease. Specifically:

--Enacted a quarantine on the barn housing the affected horses. This provision prohibits any horses from leaving or entering the facility until animal health and track officials determine that horses leaving the barn will not spread the disease.

--Tracing of all horse and/or facilities that the affected horses may have had contact with. To date, only three horses were found to have left the barn prior to the disease detection and subsequent quarantine. These animals have been located and will be monitored for any signs of illness over the next three weeks.

--Monitoring exposed horses for signs of illness to ensure immediate detection, if present.

--Requiring frequent disinfecting of quarantined area and potential disease transmission pathways, including equipment of authorized individuals entering the barn to care for the horses.

--Requiring separate feed and water sources for horses in the quarantined barn.

--Prohibiting equipment, including tack, brushes, hoses, buckets, etc. from leaving the quarantined barn.



Northville Downs remains open for the conduct of live and simulcast horse racing. Horse owners with questions should contact the Michigan Department of Agriculture's State Veterinarian Office at 517-373-1077, or the Michigan Office of Racing Commissioner at 734-462-2400.

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