More California Horses Contract Potentially Fatal Virus

SACRAMENTO (AP) -- California officials say more horses have contracted a potentially fatal virus which cancelled horse shows around the country in May.

The state Department of Food and Agriculture said Wednesday that several horses in Tuolumne, San Joaquin and Sonoma counties contracted equine herpes virus in the past few weeks.

There are currently 22 confirmed cases of the disease in 12 different counties. Two of the horses either died or were euthanized, and the rest have been placed under quarantine.

The outbreak was traced to a horse show in Utah.

Equine herpes can lead to respiratory illness, neurological problems, paralysis and miscarriage. There is no vaccine.

The virus cannot be transmitted to humans, but is transmitted among horses by air or by sharing feed, brushes, bits and other equipment.

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