Newsdate: Mon 16 April 2016 – 06:30 am
Location: LEXINGTON, Kentucky

With the arrival of warmer spring weather, new cases of Equine Herpes Viruses continue to occur in multiple states. EVH-1 disease is highly contagious and is spread by direct horse-to-horse contact with nasal secretions. It may also be spread by the inhalation of infected air particles and can also be spread indirectly through contact with physical objects contaminated with the virus, such as human hands and clothing, equipment, tack, trailers, grooming equipment, contaminated feed, and water buckets.

New cases of Equine Herpes diseases in horses

With the arrival of warmer spring weather, new cases of highly contagious Equine Herpes Viruses continue to occur in multiple states including Florida, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
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On May 13, a new case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis was confirmed in Osceola County, Florida. The two year old, unvaccinated Mustang had not been off the premises in over a year. Clinical signs began on May 6 and the horse was euthanized for humane reasons on May 7. This is the first confirmed EEE case in Osceola County and the second confirmed case in Florida for 2016.

On May 12, one premise in Palm Beach County, Florida, was placed under quarantine after a horse displayed neurologic signs and was confirmed positive for EHV-1 via PCR. The 18 other horses on the premises currently are clinically normal. The index case has been euthanized for humane reasons. Biosecurity measures and twice daily temperature monitoring are in place. All states with traces have been notified. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will continue to monitor the situation.

A horse in Washington county Wisconsin has also tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) according to Wisconsin’s state veterinarian. The horse began showing neurologic signs earlier this week and was humanely euthanized. Three other horses currently have a fever and are being monitored while being held in isolation from the other horses in the barn. The premises has been quarantined. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection will work with the stable owner and the veterinarian to determine when the quarantine will be released. For more information go to: http://datcp.wi.gov/news/?ID=1470

As of May 10th, a quarantine issued for Fonner Park in Grand Island, Nebraska, after three confirmed cases of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) were detected there last month has been lifted. The horses at Fonner Parker were quarantined for 21 days where they were monitored closely. During that time, no further cases were confirmed. For more information go to http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/press/may2016/ehm_quarantine_release.pdf.