Two Barns at Tampa Bay Downs Quarantined Following Equine Herpesvirus Case

Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla., has placed two barns under quarantine after a horse tested positive for Equine Herpesvirus (EHV), according to an announcement released on the track’s official social media channels.

The specific strain of the virus has not yet been confirmed. It remains unclear whether the case is connected to the ongoing outbreak of neurologic EHV-1/EHM traced to a recent barrel racing event in Texas. Track officials have stated that additional details will be released as they become available.

Protocol Being Taken

Barns 25 and 26 have been placed under quarantine. Horses stabled in these barns will train during separate, designated hours and are required to have their temperatures taken twice daily. Beginning Dec. 12, all horses entering the Tampa Bay Downs stable area must be accompanied by a 24-hour health certificate.

What is EHV?

Equine Herpesvirus is a contagious respiratory pathogen with several strains, the most common being EHV-1, EHV-3, EHV-4, and EHV-5. EHV-1 is considered the most serious due to its ability to cause respiratory disease, abortion in pregnant mares, and in some cases, neurologic illness.

Photo by Stefan Lafrentz