Western Quebec horse farm gripped by 'terrifying' virus outbreak

A deadly outbreak of a highly contagious virus that's often fatal inhorses has struck an equestrian farm in western Quebec.

The neurological form of EHV-1, sometimes called the equine herpes virus, has already caused the deaths of two horses and infected nearly half of the other 39 animals housed in stables at the Luskville farm.

Staff at Venturing Hills, already under added strain due tothecoronavirus pandemic, now have new anti-contagion precautions to manage.

They've been workingaround the clock to care for the horses, which are either owned by the training facility orboarded there by their private owners.

The illness seemed to come out of nowhere.

On Feb.3, Eddy, an otherwisehealthy, young horse,began to stumble and lose strength.The neurological form of the equine virus had taken hold and within hours, the animal had to be euthanized. Another horse died 11 days later.

"There was just no warning whatsoever," said Eddy's owner,Sophie Barbeau-O'Connor, who has since returned to Venturing Hills to help manage the outbreak.

Venturing Hills co-owner Rae Beckebelieves a horse purchased fromstables in Toronto in January may have brought the virus to the farm.

With themortality rate of the neurological form of EHV-1 somewhere between 30 and50 per cent, it's been a race to separate symptomatic animals from the healthy ones so anti-viral treatment can begin.

Becke and hersmall army of staff and volunteers are working in shifts to monitor the horses and administer the drugs tothe surviving animals.

At the same time, they must observe strict new protocols. It'snot just nuzzling that's now forbidden: due to a horse's powerful sneeze, the animals require a physical distance of 11 metres between them. Vapour barriers have been installed inside the barn, whilestalls are deep-cleaned and disinfected regularly.

There's even a sort of equine ICU. "This is an isolation ward for our two most vulnerable," said Becke, pointing to a new addition to the stables

WATCH | The co-owner describes the outbreak:

Quebec horse farm facing outbreak of deadly equine virus

4 years ago

Duration 1:49

Rae Becke, co-owner of Venturing Hills, says EHV-1 has infected many of the horses that live on the farm. Sophie Barbeau-O'Connors horse, Eddy, was one of them. He was euthanized on Feb. 3 after rapidly losing strength.

Veterinarian Carole Michonmust also take extreme precautions to halt the further spread of the illness, including bagging her personal protective equipment and leaving it behind when she departs for the day.

"The day I'm there, I don't go anywhere else," she said. "It's a bit like COVID."

Michon noted that whileolder horses are generally thought to be more vulnerable, the death of five-year-old Eddy shows how unpredictable the disease can be. Even horses that have been vaccinated for EHV-1 can contract theneurological form of the illness.The anti-viral drugs alone can cost more than $6,000 peranimal.

Michonsaid the virus poses no risk to humans, but people can carry it on their hands and clothes.

Becke said for her and her team, February has been the longest month.

"It's terrifying for our horses, and terrifying for our staff who are fighting a virus we just don't know if we can beat or not," she said.