Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade canceled due to virus outbreak among horses
By Chloe Godding
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LAWRENCE, Kansas (KMBC) — A virus outbreak affecting horses is also affecting the holidays in Lawrence, Kansas.
Each year in Lawrence, dozens of horses march down the street, pulling festive carriages and wagons and celebrating the season. But this year, the horses are staying home for the holidays.
Officials with the Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade announced Tuesday that the parade, scheduled for Dec. 6, is canceled this year due to an outbreak of equine herpesvirus. This highly contagious virus is spreading among horses in multiple states.
There is no risk to humans, but veterinarians and horse health experts advise against large gatherings of horses during active outbreaks.
“The health and safety of the horses and our community come first, always,” said Marty Kennedy, president of Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade Inc., in a news release. “Canceling this year’s parade was an extremely difficult decision, but it is the responsible one. We are grateful to the participants, volunteers, sponsors, and spectators who bring this parade to life each year, and we are committed to coming back next year bigger and better than ever.”
Horse owners can look out for a few signs of the virus, including fever, nasal discharge and cough, weakness in the hind limbs, inability to rise, difficulty urinating and depression, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Vaccinating horses, isolating new or returning horses and disinfecting all equipment are good ways to prevent the disease.
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