According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, new cases of Equine Herpes Virus-1 have been confirmed in Riverside and Orange County, California. These new cases bring the total number to 16.
On January 24, 2012, a gelding on a Riverside County premises displayed hind limb incoordination and was confirmed positive for the neuropathogenic strain of Equine Herpes Virus-1 (NEHV-1). The gelding became recumbent and was euthanized. The premises is under quarantine and CDFA has initiated an epidemiologic investigation. At this time officials are not aware of any links to the Orange County cases.
In Orange County, four new cases of neuropathogenic Equine Herpes Virus-1 have been confirmed on the previously quarantined premises. A total of 15 horses have tested positive on the Orange County premises with only one of the 15 horses showing neurologic signs.
Only the initial confirmed positive horse in Orange County displayed neurologic signs and he is currently recovering. All other confirmed NEHV-1 positive horses displayed respiratory symptoms, limb edema and/ or fever.
A confirmed positive horse became recumbent and was euthanized on January 18, 2012; the necropsy results indicate that it is highly unlikely that the recumbency was due to the EHV-1 infection. The single premises remains under quarantine and CDFA continues to monitor the situation.