Forest preserve: Keep horses off DuPage trails to prevent virus spread

Horse owners are being asked to keep their animals off DuPage County Forest Preserve District trails to help prevent the spread of the highly contagious and deadly equine herpes virus that has been reported in DuPage County.

In late January, the Illinois Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare was notified of laboratory confirmation of EHV-1 in eight horses boarded at Bartlett's Sunset Hill Farm, which houses 35 horses in a private stable at 8N190 Naperville Road. The state placed the stable under quarantine and at least two of the infected horses were euthanized and cremated.

Officials are not sure how the virus reached the farm.

The virus can spread by horse-to-horse contact, but also through the air, contaminating equipment, clothing and hands, which can then spread it to other horses. It poses no risk to humans.

"Given the fact there have been confirmed cases of the virus in DuPage County, we believe this step is necessary to help prevent the further spread of this deadly equine disease," forest preserve President Joe Cantore said in a written statement released Thursday.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed this year in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Pennsylvania, according to the Equine Disease Communication Center.