Las Vegas • Nevada agriculture officials say horses that competed at an equestrian center in Las Vegas earlier this month may have been exposed to an equine herpes virus.
One horse from California and another from Clark County tested positive for the virus known as EHV-1 and were placed under quarantine after competing in the National Reined Cow Horse Association Stallion Stakes at the South Point Equestrian Center from March 30 to April 6.
As a result, state veterinarian Dr. JJ Goicoechea recommended Thursday that Nevada horse owners do not travel or compete with their animals.
Three other Nevada horses were quarantined earlier this year after at least one was believed to have contracted the virus in March at the state high school rodeo in Pahrump.
Since then, Nevada Agriculture Department officials say an additional unrelated case has been confirmed in an unvaccinated horse in Clark County.
Goicoechea said Thursday the South Point center is not under quarantine.
Steve Stallworth, general manager of the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center, said they will "exercise extreme caution" but will continue to host upcoming events as scheduled.
"Safety and security are a priority," Stallworth said in a statement. "We are working closely with the state veterinarian and our own in-house veterinarian to ensure all precautions and necessary disinfecting measures have been made to the entire facility."
Goicoechea first warned horse owners in Nevada and surrounding states in early March to watch for signs of fever, cough or runny nose in any animals that may have been exposed to EHV-1.
It can cause respiratory disease in young horses, abortions in pregnant mares and neurologic disease in older horses. It can be spread through contact with exposed animals, people, equipment and vehicles.
Earlier quarantines were lifted at the end of March.