Florida IS NOT Under Quarantine At Present(PLEASE READ)

[SQUEAKS]

I have received numerous e-mails from the Tampa and Ocala areas regarding the horses that died in the Wellington and Ocala areas. One is stating that the state is under quarantine and no horses may come in or out of Florida. "THIS IS NOT TRUE"

After talking with the State Veterinarian's Office in Tallahassee, I was informed that the only areas under quarantine are in the Wellington, West Palm Beach areas and a few barns in Ocala area.

This is due to horses that died from the herpesvirus and the count is now 5 horses died, approximately 20 clinical symptom cases reported.

Check the State of Florida DOACS website for accurate information.

http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/

Check this press release
Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services Continues Investigation Into Horse Virus Outbreak

The updates listed below the above press release may not work at times because they are adding info to those releases.

They are updating it morning and evening

Bob

[SQUEAKS]

If you live in Florida and have horses the State Veterinarian's Office is asking that you check with your vet to make sure your horses have been vaccinated for the herpesvirus EHV-1. In their last update they stated that 5 horses have died and 7 tested positive for the virus. The most infected area is the Wellington W Palm Beach area and some horse facilities where shows were scheduled have been put under quarantine.

If anyone lives in those areas please keep us updated

Thanks
Bob

[Carol Nelson]

Just a caution, if your horse already has the herpes virus in their system which many of the older horses do, particularly if they've been exposed to a lot of other horses in their lives, ie., at shows or on trail rides, and you give them the EHV-1 shot, they can have an extreme reaction to the shot.

[SQUEAKS]

Here are some contacts numbers at State of Florida State Veternarian's Office

Liz Compton
(850) 488- 3022
cell: (850) 251-5693
comptol@doacs.state.fl.us

Terry McElroy
(850) 488-3022
cell: (850) 933-4562
mcelrot@doacs.state.fl.us

[PasoVicki]

Just a caution, if your horse already has the herpes virus in their system which many of the older horses do, particularly if they've been exposed to a lot of other horses in their lives, ie., at shows or on trail rides, and you give them the EHV-1 shot, they can have an extreme reaction to the shot.

I'm not even close to Florida, but Carol's warning made me wonder: Is there a test to show whether a horse already has the virus in its system . . . or do the owners simply have to take their chances? If a horse has moved between several owners, the current owner might not know about prior exposures.

[ASB.Immortality]

OH MY!!! A pony I am going to look at after the first of the year is in Ocala. How will you know what is under quarantine? How does it pass? All of those questons for someone that doesn't know a thing about it.

[SQUEAKS]

ASB

The first indication of the disease I am told is a spike in horse's temperature. I am sure there enough horse people and vets in Ocala that may be of help.

You can get a list of the farms under quarantine from the Florida Department Of Agriculture, Division of Animal Industry. See link above

One way to check that might be helpful is to request a shot record of any horse you are considering.If the horse has been vaccinated for Rhinopneumonitis (Equine Herpesvirus 1 & 4) - it has a good chance of not having it.

Hope this helps
Bob