The Adams County Fairgrounds will keep its facilities closed to horses, llamas and alpaca through June 5, because of the ongoing equine herpes virus outbreak.
The ban includes not only events, but boarding animals at the fairgrounds in Brighton, the Adams County government said in a media release tonight.
As the ban expires, county officials will consider any new information about the outbreak of the highly contagious, potentially deadly virus that has cancelled shows, sales and rodeos across the West. Numerous events have been postponed or called off entirely in Colorado.
The Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office said today that the numbers of confirmed cases are holding steady at nine confirmed case, including two horses that had to be put down.
Colorado has 22 suspected cases and 12 facilities that are either quarantined or have “hold” orders on their animals. The facilities are in Bent, Boulder, Garfield, Gunnison, Larimer, Mesa, Morgan and Weld counties.
Colorado continues to enforce a new permitting requirement on out-of-state owners to have their animals checked for the virus before bringing the animal to the state. Those veterinarians must notify the Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office.
Officials are also urging owners to isolate their animals to help stem the spread of the illness, which can be spread by horses touching noses, or owners sharing tack, food or grooming equipment.
The outbreak originated at the National Cutting Horse Association championships in Ogden, Utah, April 30 to May 8.
