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The number of dead horses after herpes infections at a horse show in Valencia could increase significantly in the coming days.
The world association FEI reports a "very large number of severe clinical cases".
On Friday, the number of horses killed as a result of infection rose from seven to nine.
Two deaths were reported in Germany.
According to the FEI, there were five dead horses in Valencia on the show grounds and in a clinic, as well as two more in Barcelona.
According to participants in the Valencia series of tournaments, the number is even higher.
The tournament series was therefore also canceled in Spain after herpes symptoms were found in a second horse at the event in Vejer de la Frontera.
After the first case, it was initially decided that there would still be riding on Saturday and Sunday.
Because another horse had shown "neurological signs of EHV-1", these two tournament days have now also been canceled, the organizers said.
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Originally the Sunshine Tour was supposed to run until the end of March.
Several Germans competed in Vejer, including the world champion Simone Blum.
The “outbreak is probably the worst in Europe in many decades,” said FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez.
While preparing for the Olympics in Spain: the German world champion Simone Blum
Source: pa / dpa / Rolf Vennenbernd
Cases known in five European countries
The number of countries with proven cases of the virus variant EHV-1 has also increased.
In addition to Spain and Germany, Belgium, France and Sweden are also affected in Europe.
In Qatar there were positive tests on the horses of the German rider Sven Schluesselburg.
The virus was also detected in the USA.
According to the German association FN, the animals that had taken part in the tournament in Valencia up to February 12 no longer show any EHV-1 symptoms.
The tournament in Doha, where five German show jumpers are also at the start, ends on Saturday afternoon with the Grand Prix.