WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - State agriculture officials are monitoring an outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus-1 at the Horse Shows in the Sun equestrian event last month in Ocala, Fla.

The state Department of Agriculture and Forestry says on Feb. 21 a horse was diagnosed with a wild strain of the virus and six days later, several more horses were diagnosed.

The horse show grounds on currently under quarantine but horses that attended the show may have been exposed to the virus.

Commissioner Mike Strain says Louisiana-based horses that participated in the event must be cleared by a veterinarian and must notify the Louisiana State Veterinarian's Office in order to re-enter the state.

Strain says at least seven horses are quarantined in New Orleans. It's unclear if that number will grow.