Nineteen horses have been in quarantine, excluding the one horse that had initially tested positive on July 1st at HITS Chicago. All horses have all had 2 negative tests using PCR for streptoccous equi since the initial positive test.
The initial horse did not develop clinical signs associated with strangles, maintained a normal rectal temperature during her time in quarantine, and left the show grounds the morning of Thursday July 11th. She was maintained in strict isolation and physically separate from all other horses during her time in quarantine.
The low exposure risk group of 5 horses had a second negative test performed the afternoon of Wednesday July 10th. They have had normal rectal temperatures, no nasal discharge, or lymph node swelling. HITS show management has been working with Dr. Katie Flynn, USEF’s Equine Health and Biosecurity Veterinarian, and Dr. Marshall Stevens, show veterinarian. The decision was made to allow the low exposure risk group of horses to begin to compete Friday, July 5th. The horses will remain stabled in tent 7.
The high exposure risk group of 14 horse had a 3rd test on Monday July 15th, 2 weeks from exposure. As of Wednesday, July 17, all horses have been released from isolation following three negative tests.
Throughout the entirety of this event, no horses showed symptoms of the strangles virus and only one horse ever recieved a positive test.
The low and high exposure risk groups of horses stabled in tent seven were physically distant and separated and have been since entering tent seven on July 2nd.
HITS Show Management asked that every barn take the situation seriously, and enforce biosecurity measures within their own stable.
Biosecurity measures include:
• Take temperatures of all horses twice daily and maintain a log. Temperature logs are available at the horse show office. Horses presenting with a temperature of more than 101.5 degrees F or any signs of respiratory or neurological disease should be reported to the show veterinarian and HITS management immediately.
• Isolate any horse exhibiting symptoms or illness and report any cases to the show veterinarian and horse show management. Horses with symptoms will be moved to an on-site isolation area.
• We recommend no sharing of equipment between horses including tack, accessories, and feed and water buckets.
• Handlers should wash hands in between handling horses and maintain proper biosecurity protocols in the barn and at the rings.
• Maintain distancing between horses at the ring and in the barn. No nose-to-nose contact between horses.
Stay tuned for updates.
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