A horse in Randall County has tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), marking the first confirmed case in the area and linking the facility to a growing outbreak across multiple states, officials confirmed Tuesday.
The horse is housed at a private operation now under official quarantine, and veterinarians are monitoring for possible exposures.
The case is tied to the Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) outbreak that began at the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Finals and Elite Barrel Race event held Nov. 5-9 in Waco. Texas veterinarians first reported the outbreak earlier this month.
As of Nov. 25, the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) has recorded one confirmed case in Randall County, with the number of suspected or exposed horses still unknown.
Texas cases so far have been reported in counties including Bell, Erath, Fort Bend, Harris, Hood, Lee, McLennan, Montgomery, Parker, Randall, Wise, Waller and Wharton.
A multi-state outbreak under investigation
Texas has reported 15 confirmed EHM cases with neurologic symptoms and one additional case of EHV-1 without neurologic signs. State officials say more cases are possible as testing continues.
Confirmed cases associated with the Waco event have also been reported in:
EHV-1 (PCR positive, no neurologic signs)
EHV-1 (PCR positive, no clinical signs)
EHM (PCR positive with neurologic signs)
An additional case confirmed Nov. 18 in Maryland was not linked to the Waco event.
Symptoms to watch for
Veterinarians urge horse owners to immediately monitor for:
Health officials emphasized that EHV-1 does not pose a risk to humans, but can spread rapidly between horses through contact, shared buckets or tack, or respiratory droplets.
EHV-1 typically causes respiratory illness, but some strains lead to neurological disease known as Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). The condition stems from inflammation and reduced blood flow within the brain or spinal cord.
While serious, 60–70% of affected horses typically recover with treatment and supportive care — but early detection and isolation are critical.
Biosecurity reminders for horse owners
State animal health officials recommend:
Officials say local owners should act as though exposure is possible — especially if their animals recently traveled, boarded or competed.
Monitoring continues in Randall County
The Randall County case was reported by a private practitioner in coordination with state animal health officials. No additional local cases have been confirmed. Monitoring and testing continue under quarantine and containment protocols.
Veterinarians stressed that this is a moment for careful vigilance rather than alarm. With strict biosecurity practices and early reporting, most outbreaks remain contained. But officials warned that travel, winter training schedules and upcoming rodeo events could increase exposure risks. They said local horse owners should pay close attention in the coming weeks — because early detection now may prevent wider spread across the Panhandle later.
Veterinarians with confirmed or suspected cases can submit reports to the EDCC at: https://equinediseasecc.org/forms/report-outbreak
For real-time updates, visit the Equine Disease Communication Center’s outbreak page.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: First EHV-1 case confirmed in Randall County linked to Waco outbreak
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
