Idaho State Department of Agriculture officials recommend that upcoming horse events in the state are cancelled and related movement of the animals stopped temporarily following confirmed reports of Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 linked to several recent competitive events in Texas and Oklahoma. While Idaho has no confirmed EHV-1 cases, the state veterinarian urges horse owners, trainers and event organizers to take “immediate biosecurity precautions” and temporarily stop any transporting or hauling of horses, according to a department news release. The recommendation aims to protect Idaho horses. Recommended biosecurity steps, according to ISDA’s website, include quarantining for 21 days horses that attended the Waco, Texas, or Guthrie, Okla., events and contacting the Idaho state veterinarian immediately; taking exposed horses’ temperatures twice daily and reporting fever or other virus signs to a veterinarian; isolating horses who show neurological signs, nasal discharge or coughing; wearing protective gear around horses who show signs; disinfecting environments and shared equipment; and avoiding sharing equipment between exposed and unexposed horses. EHV-1 must be reported to ISDA within two days of discovery. The virus cannot infect humans. In horses, the virus is contagious and potentially deadly. The virus can cause respiratory disease, abortions in pregnant mares and in severe cases neurological disease, according to the release. Confirmed cases of neurologic EHV-1 in horses that attended the competitive events have been identified in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Idaho horse owners who attended the events or were near them should contact the Idaho state veterinarian immediately, according to the release. ISDA biosecurity recommendations detail.
https://capitalpress.com/2025/11/21/equine-virus-outbreak-elsewhere-prompts-isda-recommendation/