Equine herpesvirus quarantines at two Kentucky Thoroughbred facilities were released, ending the recent outbreak of the neurologic disease. Robert Stout, DVM, Kentucky state veterinarian, lifted the quarantine at Turfway Park in Florence on Feb. 2, and removed the quarantine at the Western Kentucky Training Center in Henderson on Feb. 3. The tracks were quarantined when officials detected an equine herpesvirus (EHV) outbreak that began on Dec. 21, 2005, at Turfway. For more on the initial outbreak see (www.TheHorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=6452) and (www.TheHorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=6455).

Stout released Turfway’s final barn (Barn 27) from quarantine 43 days after the quarantine was initiated. Rusty Ford, of the Kentucky state veterinarian’s office, said the release was “based on the negative buffy coat results, supported with information that no clinical evidence of disease has been suggested within these 52 horses or barn during the previous 26-day period. With a clean clinical assessment of each animal completed following the races on Feb.1, we are able to conclude these animals are not affected with an active equine herpesvirus infection.”

Additionally, 16 horses quarantined at the Western Kentucky Training Center were released after officials concluded that the horses showed no clinical signs of the virus and had negative buffy coat tests.

The New York Racing Association has released its restriction for Kentucky horses entering its tracks. As of Feb. 7, Ford was awaiting word from Linda Lacy, executive secretary of the West Virginia Racing Commission, on lifting restrictions for Kentucky horses entering Mountaineer and Charles Town racetracks as well