Fair Grounds Horses Nearing Release From Quarantine

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture has issued an addendum to the incident plan regarding the equine herpesvirus outbreak on the backstretch at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

All barns continue to have enhanced biosecurity measures and twice daily monitoring of temperatures. Unaffected barns may be considered for quarantine release as early as Jan. 21.

Barns considered affected may be released from quarantine without testing as early as Jan. 23, barring the presence of any new horses in those barns developing clinical signs consistent with the virus.

Horses that have been isolated from those barns after testing positive will be eligible for quarantine release with two consecutive negative tests, not less than 72 hours apart, after at least 14 days in quarantine since testing positive or having been exposed to a positive horse. Testing for quarantine release may begin Jan. 23.

Additional information, including the full addendum to the incident plan, from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture can be found at this link.