Menacing viruses die from herpes

It initially looks like a harmless flu, but the dangerous infectious disease can end fatally: In the region of Hannover is currently rampant horse herpes. Owner and rider are worried. It is important to take precautions.

Worry in Lower Saxony: animals die of equine herpes. Image: Kirsty Pargeter - fotolia

Infectious disease in the horse country Lower Saxony
Only a few weeks ago, a horse search spread fear in Bavaria. In the Free State, several riding stables had been closed due to the occurrence of several cases of "Equine Infectious Anemia" (EIA). Infected animals were killed. Now the outbreak of herpes virus infections in several horse stables is causing trouble for riders in the Hanover region. According to a message from the news agency dpa, the Reitergut Köthenwald in Sehnde is particularly affected. There are already two horses died as a result of the infectious disease. And another horse from the Sehnder riding stable was treated at the isolation ward of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Tiho).

No data available for distribution
Veterinarian Karsten Feige, who runs the clinic for horses on the Tiho, explained that also in the counties Peine and Hildesheim cases of illness had become known. Since equine herpes is not a notifiable or reportable disease, the State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (Laves) does not have data on distribution in Lower Saxony. But it always comes back to outbreaks, as last 2012 in the district of Harburg. However, the infection is only fatal in isolated cases. A transfer to humans is unknown. "Snot", another condition that primarily affects horses, can be transmitted to humans and cause symptoms such as fever, chills, headaches and body aches. At the beginning of the year, the first snot infection had been reported in Germany for almost 50 years. Affected was a sport horse from Lower Saxony.

Safety precautions must be observed
The currently affected farms are required to make security arrangements. For example, the owners are only allowed to enter the stables in protective suits. The equestrian sports association Hanover has made behavioral recommendations in the case of acute herpesvirus infections on its website. "It's not a disease, but you should not underestimate the disease," said CEO Erika Putensen, who appealed to the owners' sense of responsibility. At present, nobody should go to tournaments with a horse that is in stocks where the virus is rampant. So far, however, only a few events due to equine herpes have been completely canceled in the Hannover region. Gallopers have to be vaccinated against the virus every six months anyway.

If symptoms occur, get a vet
Horse owners should get a veterinarian early, according to veterinarian Feige, if their animals have fever, runny nose and cough. Some diseased horses also show neurological symptoms. The veterinary professor explained that it is not possible to remove the herpes virus completely from the stables. Not even if more owners decide to vaccinate. It is said that 70 to 90 percent of all horses are infected with herpes viruses - usually without the owners knowing about it. The disease can break out in stress situations and then spread quickly. (Ad)