There were no new cases of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) reported to state and provincial animal health officials today, marking the second day in a row the number of confirmed cases remained steady. The point of origin for the related outbreak is thought to be an Ogden, Utah, cutting horse championship competition that ended a month ago.

"The vast majority of horse owners in Oregon and in the Pacific Northwest should feel free to participate in horse shows, rodeos, and other equine events as a recent outbreak of the neurological form of equine herpesvirus appears to be well contained," read a statement on the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s website today. "The few horses that have shown symptoms of the disease will remain quarantined in their barns or stalls and monitored closely until it is clear the virus is no longer present."

"While we appear to be out of the current episode, herpes viruses in general are common in horse populations as they are in human populations," State Veterinarian Don Hansen, DVM, said in the statement. "It’s always a good idea to take steps that minimize the threat of disease. That was the case before the recent outbreak and will continue to be the case in the future."

Likewise, the Utah Department of Agriculture has encouraged horse owners in the state to participate in regularly scheduled events. The department also noted that good biosecurity practices be followed at all times in an attempt to prevent another EHV-1 outbreak