EHV-1 and PVDR
Have you heard of Equine Herpesvirus Type 1(EHV-1)?
On November 19, 2025, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDoA) issued an alert to equine owners regarding an outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) in Texas, which was reported by veterinarians following the Word Championship Barrel Racing Finals in Waco, Texas. In the wake of this outbreak, TDoA urged equine owners to take additional precautions in monitoring and handling their animals if they had any proximity to the Waco event. EHV-1 can affect horses and donkeys alike, so PVDR took action immediately after the warning was issued.
Out of an abundance of caution, PVDR shut down certain operations of our San Angelo, Texas, “Central” headquarters to make sure our furry friends stayed safe. EHV-1 can be an extremely dangerous (and scary) virus which can pop up through a wide variety of symptoms, including fever; nasal discharge or coughing, depression or lethargy; neurological signs, like stumbling or incoordination; or even abortions in pregnant equine. EHV-1 spreads quickly and efficiently, making proper precautions and observation of our donkeys extremely important. That’s why our Central headquarters did not allow any newly rescued donkeys to come onto the ranch or leave while the outbreak notice was in effect. Instead, we wanted to wait an appropriate amount of time to ensure our donkeys didn’t accidentally come into contact with the virus. Importantly, EHV-1 can be spread through direct contact (e.g., nose-to-nose touching) or indirect means (e.g., shared grooming tools, water, or feed buckets). Even humans can inadvertently transmit the EHV-1 between different equines. For this reason, our staff brought a change of clothes between work and home every day to make sure they weren’t accidentally transporting traces of the virus on their clothing. Additionally, ranch hands made sure to use additional hygienic practices when going from one donkey pen to another, including constant handwashing in between visiting different donkeys using effective soap and hand sanitizer. We also made sure any newer donkeys that came in prior to the outbreak were quarantined for the standard incubation time period, which can last up to 14 days. Just recently, we have slowly reopened operations of the Central headquarters as the spread of EHV-1 has subsided. However, our staff continues to monitor our donkeys to ensure we are taking quick action if we see any signs of EHV-1 infection. As of January 2026, PVDR has resumed all operations.
If you have furry equine friends of your own at home, make sure you are keeping an eye on them during this time in case they begin to show signs of potential EHV-1 infection. Contact your local veterinarian if you have any concerns, and keep an eye on the TDoA website for updates regarding the outbreak.