The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture had warned the horse owners about the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) outbreak that affected the horses who had participated in the NCHA Western National Championship in Utah and the Kern County Cutting Horse Event in California along with horse population which was directly exposed to that group.

However, all the virus contaminated horses, affected or exposed, across the state are under state quarantine or movement restrictions. The Acting State Veterinarian, Dr. Michael Herrin, had suggested the horse owners and event managers to practice high measures of precautions and consider the virus seriously.

Additionally, on Wednesday the Utah State Veterinarian Bruce L. King, DVM had announced no alteration in all equine events as the threat of spread of EHV-1 virus at these events is now negligible. Further, he notified the last EHV-1 in Utah was confirmed on May 22 while claimed that currently there are six quarantined private locations, Box Elder, Davis, Kane, and Utah (3) counties) with a total of seven confirmed cases and thirteen suspect cases.

The Veterinarian also emphasized that the disease causing agents may have a routine presence among any animal population while suggested to practice proper bio-security to provide the best protection for all horses at an event.