Managing an Outbreak

Start working with your veterinarian immediately. Stop moving any horses off your farm and do not bring in any new horses. Take the rectal temperature of all your horses twice a day and monitor any temperatures above 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Isolate horses with a fever immediately to prevent them from spreading the bacteria to other horses, which occurs within one-to-two days of developing a fever.

Have separate caretakers care for infected/exposed and unexposed horses. If this is not possible, always work with the healthy horses first. Use different cleaning and grooming equipment, pastures, and water troughs for infected/exposed and unexposed horses. All farm staff should practice careful hygiene and disinfect all supplies and equipment. Rest pastures used by infected horses for four weeks. Previously infected horses should have three negative tests before being reintroduced to the healthy horses.

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Managing an Outbreak