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Jim

Richard T. "Jim" Holland
Three Creeks Farm
175 Hells Hollow Drive
Blue Ridge, Ga 30513
(706) 258-2830
www.threecreeksarabians.com
Callsign KI4BEN

-----Original Message-----
From: Myers, Lee [mailto:lmyers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 11:39 AM
Subject: FW: URGENT: UPDATE - Important: Rabid Horse Associated with
TennesseeWalking Horse National Celebration -- Tennessee, August 2006( FYI )

Horse owners are encouraged to talk to their veterinarian about having
their horses inoculated against rabies.

LMM

Lee M. Myers, DVM, MPH, Dipl. ACVPM
State Veterinarian
Assistant Commissioner of Animal Industry Georgia Department of
Agriculture
19 MLK Jr., Drive
Atlanta, GA   30334

Office:   404-656-3671
Fax:       404-657-1357
Cell:      404-895-5658
Email:    lmyers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web:      http://www.agr.georgia.gov


______________

From:              Health Alert Network (CDC)
Sent:        Saturday, September 09, 2006 5:41 PM
To:          Health Alert Network (CDC)
Subject:           CDC Advisory 00248 - Horse stabled at Tennessee
Walking
Horse 2006 National Celebration Tested Positive for Rabies

This is an official
CDC Health Advisory

Distributed via Health Alert Network
September 9, 2006, 20:44 EDT (08:44 PM EDT) CDCHAN-00248-06-09-09-ADV-N

Horse stabled at Tennessee Walking Horse 2006 National Celebration
Tested Positive for Rabies


The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) with the assistance of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are notifying the
approximately 150,000 persons who attended the Tennessee Walking Horse
National Celebration in Shelbyville of a confirmed case of rabies in a
horse stabled on the grounds during the event. If persons were bitten or
came in contact with saliva from this horse (described below) from
August 23-31, 2006 while attending the Celebration, they may have been
exposed to rabies and are invited to contact TDH for an assessment.

Rabies is a viral infection that nearly always results in fatal
encephalitis. Humans may be exposed to rabies primarily through the bite
of a rabid animal or when the virus is introduced into fresh open cuts
in the skin or onto mucous membranes such as the eyes, mouth or nose
from the saliva of a rabid animal. Attending an event where a rabid
animal was present, petting a rabid animal or contact with the blood,
urine or feces of a rabid animal does not constitute a risk for
transmission. If a person is exposed to rabies, a series of shots
(post-exposure prophylaxis) is highly effective in preventing the
disease.

Among the approximate 150,000 persons who attended the Tennessee Walking
Horse National Celebration, the number and origin (U.S. states or other
countries) of persons who may have been exposed to this horse are
unknown.
TDH is currently working with event organizers and managers to identify
additional mechanisms to contact participants and visitors.

The horse that developed rabies was from Waynesville, Missouri. It was a
3-year-old gelding (neutered male horse), buckskin (cream to tan) in
color with a black mane and tail. "Buck" or "Bucky" was described as
"small," 14 hands or 56 inches tall at the withers (i.e., the highest
area of the shoulders at the base of the neck). He was stabled on the
north side of Barn 50 in stall #12, the third from the west end. A
bright blue curtain labeled "4J Land and Cattle Company" covered the
outside porch of the barn.
The potential for contact by the public was very limited when the horse
was in its stall but there may have been opportunity for public contact
when the horse was taken for rides on the Celebration grounds. The horse
was first noted to be ill on August 28. Over the next few days, the
horse developed severe neurological signs and, as a result, was
euthanized.
Persons directly involved in the care of the horse are being assessed
for possible rabies exposure and the need for rabies post-exposure
treatment.

If the individual
* was bitten by a horse;
* had contamination of a fresh open wound with saliva from a horse; or
* had saliva from a horse come in contact with eyes, nose, mouth or
other mucous membranes.

Personnel are available to answer additional questions at the Tennessee
Department of Health Public Information Line 1-866-355-6129.
_____________

Categories of Health Alert messages:

Health Alert             conveys the highest level of importance;
warrants
immediate action or attention.
Health Advisory          provides important information for a specific
incident or situation; may not require immediate action.
Health Update            provides updated information regarding an
incident
or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.
##This Message was distributed to State and Local Health Officers,
Public Information Officers, Epidemiologists, State Laboratory
Directors, Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordinators and HAN
Coordinators, as well as Public Health Associations and Clinician
organizations##







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