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The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s National Finals Rodeo is set to start Wednesday, Dec. 3 and continue to Dec. 13. The PRCA’s premier event has been jeopardized by an outbreak of the equine herpes virus type 1. The virus is highly contagious and can be deadly to horses. So far, at least seven horses have died or been euthanized because of the mutated form of the virus. The virus is spread through direct horse to horse contact, as well as through indirect contact. Bio security measures are the best way to stop the spread of the disease, including thorough disinfecting of shared items such as water buckets and tack and isolating suspected infected horses. Barrel racing horses seem to have been the most affected so far. The latest outbreak appears to have been spread at the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association World Finals and Elite Barrel Racing event in Waco, Texas in early November, according to the Equine Disease Communication Center website.
Several horses were infected, and multiple horses have died as a result. Two of the horses infected but without symptoms are in Spokane County.
