State experts: Horse virus no longer threat in Nevada

RENO (AP) - State agriculture officials say the threat of any further outbreak of a highly contagious horse virus in Nevada has passed and all future rodeos and horse shows should continue as planned.

Nevada Department of Agriculture Administrator Dr. Phil LaRussa also said Wednesday that with the exception of the three confirmed cases of the virus in Nevada, all other horses should be cleared for travel both in and out of state.

LaRussa says there's been no more cases in Nevada since two were confirmed in Washoe County and one in Elko County last month. Those horses either attended - or were exposed to horses that attended - the competition where the disease broke out in May in Ogden, Utah.

The virus has been blamed for 12 horse deaths in the U.S.