PORT ANGELES — An outbreak in Washington and other western states of equine herpesvirus-1, a highly contagious airborne virus that can be fatal to horses, is not worrying the owners of The World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions.
The dancing white stallions are performing at the Clallam County Fairgrounds in Port Angeles at 7 p.m. tonight and Wednesday.
“All of our ‘boys’ have been vaccinated and are getting booster shots as an added precaution,” the show’s management said in a statement Monday.
“We are making sure that all facilities we go into have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to our arrival.
“All of our personnel are very adept and skilled at keeping everything clean and disinfected and only dealing/handling our ‘boys.’
“Good personal and equine hygiene will help keep everyone’s horses virus-free.”
EHV-1 has been confirmed in 44 horses in nine Western states, including five horses in Washington. At least seven horses in the nine states have died.
The disease is not transmittable to humans or other animals beyond horses, mules, burros, llamas and alpacas.
The outbreak started at a National Cutting Horse Association event held in early May in Ogden, Utah.
Tickets to the two Lipizzaner shows are available at www.tickets.com or by phoning 800-882-8258.
Information about the shows is available at 360-417-2551.
