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Aggressive Horse Virus Outbreak Tied to Waco Event Triggers Cancellations and Multi‑State Alerts

Officials urge strict biosecurity, quarantines, contact tracing to contain an aggressive EHV‑1 strain linked to the Waco barrel‑racing finals.

Overview

  • Texas agriculture officials confirm an EHV‑1 outbreak tied to the Nov. 5–9 Waco event, with Commissioner Sid Miller citing at least 14 confirmed cases and reporting lethal losses.
  • The WPRA has ordered a 14‑day quarantine for horses that attended Waco through Dec. 2 and canceled late‑November events, while the San Antonio qualifier in Uvalde and Oklahoma’s BFA championship were called off.
  • Fort Worth Stockyards paused its cattle drives Nov. 20–28, and facilities from Tyler’s Texas Rose Horse Park to municipal arenas in the Houston area announced temporary closures.
  • Florida and North Dakota notified owners of potential exposures tied to Waco and Guthrie, report no in‑state cases to date, and advise isolation and monitoring of returning horses.
  • Veterinarians urge suspending transport, twice‑daily temperature checks, and rigorous disinfection of shared gear; humans do not get EHV‑1 but can mechanically carry the virus between horses.