You guys in Ohio, what's the latest on this? Bonnie
Davis
Nine Horses Dead at University of Findlay Facility in
Ohio >>By DENISE GRANT >>
STAFF WRITER >> >>A suspected
viral outbreak at the University of Findlay's equestrian >>complex at
11178 County Road 201 has killed nine horses in the past >>three days,
prompting the university to quarantine the facility, and >>another
horse complex it owns on County Road 40. >> >>The death toll
among the valuable horses at the County Road 201 >>facility was
expected to rise. >> >>All local horse owners are also being
advised to quarantine their own >>barns until the exact cause of the
sickness is known -- and known to >>be
contained. >> >>About 200 students from the university's
equestrian program attended >>a meeting Monday at the main campus,
where they were told the status >>of their
horses. >> >>Instructor Julie Jewett had the grim task of
reading the names of >>dead and dying horses. Each name read was
followed by mournful cries >>from the
students. >> >>It is believed that nearly all of the 140
horses at the James L. >>Child Jr. Equestrian Complex on County Road
201 are most likely >>infected with the virus. This facility is for
students who are >>studying English riding. >> >>Two
horses were in "critical" condition late Monday night, nine were >>in
stable condition and two had just started to show
symptoms. >> >>Veterinarians for the University of Findlay
said they suspect the >>horses are dying of equine herpes virus, but
are still waiting for >>autopsy and culture results from Ohio State
University. Those results >>are expected to be available within the
week. >> >>The equine herpes virus is not a threat to humans
or other animals. >> >>Retired veterinarian C.R. Beckett, the
chairman of the University of >>Findlay's Board of Trustees, said the
carnage on County Road 201 >>is "devastating beyond belief and
description." >> >>Beckett said in his 35 years of equestrian
medicine, he has never >>seen anything like
this. >> >>If it is the equine herpes virus, Beckett said, it
is a variant, or >>mutant strain, that is attacking the central nervous
system of the >>horses. He said the equine herpes virus normally
affects a horse's >>respiratory system. >> >>Once the
horses start showing symptoms, which mimic the flu, many die >>within
hours, Beckett said. >> >>He said the virus was most likely
brought into the complex by a horse >>that carried the disease but was
immune to it. >> >>The complex on County Road 201 houses
mostly European Warm Bloods, a >>breed of horses known for show
abilities. Many are thoroughbreds and >>are quite valuable. They range
in age from two years to 20 years, and >>are owned by UF students, the
university and others who bring their >>horses to the facility for
training. >> >>The university's other equestian center, a
western riding facility >>called the Center for Equine and
Pre-Veterinary Studies at 11613 >>County Road 40, houses more than 300
horses. >> >>Dr. Greg Hass, a veterinarian for the University
of Findlay, said the >>worst may be over within the next two
days. >> >>Hass said the virus is most likely spread from
horse to horse through >>respiratory secretions. He said those who are
working with horses >>should wash their hands and clothes completely
and disinfect their >>boots. Equipment should not be shared between
horses. >> >>The university has moved all classes out of the
County Road 201 >>equestrian complex until further notice. English
riding students and >>western riding students will also be separated
during their classroom >>studies, as an added precaution in making sure
the virus doesn't >>spread to the western riding
facility. >> >>-----#End#-----
