FARGO — Both the North Dakota State Veterinarian's Office and Minnesota Board of Animal Health say neither state has had a confirmed case after a recent outbreak of equine herpes.

The outbreak has been linked to rodeo events in Texas and Oklahoma.

Both respiratory and neurological herpes have been found.

The North Dakota office has contacted nine horse owners in the state whose animals may have been exposed.

"It is more of a respiratory thing, so it affects the horse's lungs, and then it kind of attacks the rest of their body, and can be deadly, or oftentimes is deadly," said Jessica Bailey, program assistant with NDSU Bison Strides.

While the virus is highly contagious among horses, it does not affect humans.

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