Deadly EHV-1 Horse Virus Outbreak Linked to Texas Barrel Racing Finals

EHV-1 Outbreak in Texas

• 🦠 An outbreak of the contagious Equine Herpes Virus type 1 (EHV-1) is affecting horses across Texas.
• ⚠️ The outbreak has led to the cancellation of the Uvalde rodeo qualifier and a format change for the Fort Worth Stockyard Championship Rodeo, which will be bull riding only.

Tracing the Source

• 🎯 Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller states the outbreak is being traced back to the World Championship barrel racing finals held in Waco earlier this month.
• 📢 Owners who attended this event or participated in other large recent rodeo events are urged to monitor their horses.

Symptoms and Prevention

• 🤒 Symptoms to watch for include fever, runny nose, coughing, lethargy, or neurological issues such as stumbling, weakness, or head tilt.
• 🤰 Mares may also experience loss of pregnancy.
• 🩺 Early detection of signs is critical for the animal's recovery and to prevent further spread of the virus.