Two new outbreaks discovered Monday of a disease that is both common and highly contagious among horses led Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue to continue the voluntary quarantine of its facility in Hardy for at least another 30 days.

The nonprofit first initiated the quarantine July 5 after five horses were determined to be suffering from “equine strangles” — a disease caused by a bacterial infection. Symptoms include nasal discharge, fever and enlarged lymph nodes that can become abscessed.

During the quarantine, no horses leave the property, no new horses come in and no visitors are allowed. Read more…