The Virginia Department of Agriculture is reporting that a boarding stable in western Albemarle County where a 14-year-old gelding has tested positive for a neurological disease caused by a virus is under quarantine.
Quarantine for sick horse
Equine herpes virus infection in horses can cause respiratory disease, abortion in mares, neonatal foal death, and neurological disease and is often fatal.
The department says the horse showed symptoms of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy on Jan. 31 and is now stable. Initial findings of an epidemiological investigation show that one exposed horse left the stable within the last two weeks and was moved out of state.
Equine herpes virus infection in horses can cause respiratory disease, abortion in mares, neonatal foal death, and neurological disease. The virus is not transmissible to humans. Damage to the blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord cause neurological signs to appear.
The disease is often fatal. Symptoms may include a fever, nasal discharge, wobbly gait and hind-end weakness. The disease is easily spread and typically has an incubation period between 2-10 days. Respiratory shedding of the virus occurs for 7-10 days, but may last longer in infected horses.