State of Montana Newsroom
Equine Import Alert
CONTACT:
Dr. Emily Kaleczyc, MT Dept of Livestock, 406-444-5214, Emily.kaleczyc@mt.gov
Dr. Tahnee Szymanski, MT Dept of Livestock, 406-444-0782, tszymanski@mt.gov
The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) is aware of a multi-state outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1)/Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) related to barrel racing and roping events in Texas and Oklahoma. This is a rapidly developing outbreak, and there are now many cases reported in multiple additional states.
At this time, there are no known clinical horses or confirmed cases in Montana, but the extent of this outbreak is unknown and likely to expand.
To address the potential risk to Montana’s horses, MDOL has released an emergency rule, effective immediately, modifying import requirements for equines entering Montana. The updated requirements are:
- All equines entering Montana must be traveling on a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) issued no earlier than 72 hours prior to travel into Montana. This 72-hour restriction also applies to equines who are issued a CVI in Montana to travel out-of-state and are returning to Montana on the same CVI.
- Equines that may have been exposed to EHV-1 within 14 days prior to CVI inspection are not eligible for importation into Montana until this order is lifted.
- Equines exhibiting any clinical signs consistent with EHV-1 or EHM, including a fever, are not eligible for importation into Montana until this Order is lifted.
- All other importation requirements for equines eligible for entry into Montana pursuant to this Order remain in place.
EHM is caused by the equine herpes virus (EHV-1), which is common in the general horse population. When it causes illness, the virus can cause three different disease syndromes: respiratory disease (primarily seen in young horses), abortion, and neurologic disease. Transmission of the virus can by aerosol or indirectly on objects such as feeding equipment, water buckets, hands, clothing, tack, and trailers. The vaccine for EHV-1 does not protect against the neurologic form of the disease. Owners should monitor horses carefully for fever, nasal discharge, lack of coordination, hindquarter weakness, leaning or resting against a fence or wall to maintain balance, lethargy, urine dribbling, head tilt, diminished tail tone, and penile paralysis. Owners of horses with any of these signs should contact their veterinarian immediately and notify MDOL by calling 406-444-2976.