Pierce County is closing its horse arena and barns at Frontier Park as a precautionary measure due to concern about a potentially deadly equine virus that broke out at a competition in Utah earlier this month.

The arena and barn closure is expected to last until May 26 while Pierce County Parks and Recreation staff do a thorough cleaning of the facility. Other areas of Frontier Park, which is located at 21818 Meridian South in Graham, remain open.

State Veterinarian Leonard Eldridge has advised horse owners and facility owners to be vigilant for cases of horses with Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV-1). Several confirmed cases in horses with severe symptoms have been reported in Utah, Colorado and elsewhere. In Washington state, there is one confirmed case, involving a horse in Thurston County.

The exposure, which poses no health threat to people, occurred during a National Cutting Horse Association event in Ogden, Utah, from April 30 to May 8. Horse owners who attended the show have been advised.

“We are always on the alert for any threat, so we are voluntarily closing the Frontier Park facilities out of an abundance of caution,” said Kathy Kravit-Smith, director of Pierce County Parks and Recreation.

More information about the outbreak is available on the Washington State Department of Agriculture website: www.agr.wa.gov.