A horse in Albemarle County, northwest of Charlottesville, Virginia, that displayed neurologic abnormality was confirmed positive for Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) on February 5, 2015. The boarding stable at which the affected horse is located, along with fourteen other horses, has been placed under quarantine. No horses may leave or enter the premises until the quarantine is lifted.
EHM is a neurological form of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), a highly infectious disease that generally affects the respiratory system.
Although the condition of the horse in Albemarle County has been improving, a horse in Loudoun County was tested positive for the neurolopathogenic strain of EHV-1 on February 12. That horse has been isolated at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, and is also recovering. The farm where the horse was stabled is also under quarantine. Thirty-three other horses at that farm have shown no signs of the disease.
Updates are published periodically by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Posted February 20, 2015
