Equine Herpes

The equine herpes virus is more reminiscent of the human flu than the herpes virus normally associated with people, but the threat to a horse depends on what strain of herpes it contracts.

  1. Disease

    • Horses develop rhinopneumonitis after being exposed to the equine herpes virus. You may hear some people refer to equine herpes virus as "rhino." Horses are usually affected by equine herpes virus type one (EHV-1), and sometimes by equine herpes virus type four (EHV-4).

    Effects

    • Normally, with both strains of the virus, horses develop a respiratory disease, which may not be much of a problem. Occasionally a pregnant mare will abort her foal. The most serious form of the disease causes neurological symptoms that can include paralysis. This form causes the most deaths.

    Spread

    • Horses contract herpes virus through touching noses with infected horses; breathing in what an infected horse has sneezed out; and by drinking from a water container that an infected horse has drunk from.

    Immunization

    • There is a vaccine for herpes virus. If you own a horse that is often moved to different properties, that horse should be vaccinated every two months with boosters. Other horses should be vaccinated every four to six months.

    Outbreak

    • Florida's annual Winter Equestrian Festival in 2007 was disrupted by an outbreak of the neurological form of EHV-1 in 2007, causing many competitors who normally spend time at the horse shows and polo matches to hold off on moving their horses down, which disrupted the area's show schedules.