by Fran Jurga | 14 January 2009 | The Jurga Report on Equisearch.com
Background: On December 15, 2008, the State of Kentucky confirmed a case of contagious equine metritis (CEM) in a Quarter horse stallion on a farm in central Kentucky.A total of seven stallions have now been confirmed as positive for CEM by the US Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories. Four of the infected stallions are located in Kentucky and three are in Indiana. The Indiana stallions spent time on the central Kentucky premises during the 2008 breeding season.
Update: In addition to the positive stallions, the locations of 265 exposed horses have also been confirmed. The total of 272 horses includes 30 stallions and 242 mares located in a total of 38 states. The 30 positive or exposed stallions are located in 10 States, and the 242 exposed mares are in 36 States.
All CEM-positive horses, and all exposed horses that have been located, are currently under quarantine or hold order. Testing and treatment protocols are being put into action for all located horses. There are 94 additional exposed horses still actively being traced.
From the information provided, this disease outbreak has not been linked to horse transportation regulations and all states seem to allowing open admission of horse vans and trailers from other states. This is especially helpful to competition horses headed south and west for winter competition circuits, and for Thoroughbred mares being transported for breeding.
Nonetheless, if you are planning interstate transport of horses, check with the relevant state government offices. Herpes outbreaks can also affect interstate transport.
