2007 PRESS RELEASES
February 26, 2007
HORSE FROM VIRGINIA TESTS POSITIVE FOR EQUINE HERPES VIRUS-1
Contact: Elaine Lidholm, 804.786.7686
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced that a horse from a farm in Fauquier County tested positive for Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1). This horse had been admitted to the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center (EMC) for surgery and went to a convalescent center in Maryland to recuperate. She had to be euthanized because of complications from surgery, but test results revealed she also was infected with EHV-1.
Officials with VDACS imposed a quarantine of the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center's facilities on Tuesday, February 20, due to the suspected infection of the neurological form of EHV-1 in three hospitalized horses. Three horses subsequently tested positive. One was euthanized for reasons other than EHV-1 infection and the other two remain at EMC.
VDACS quarantined a total of ten premises last week in Loudoun, Fauquier, Culpeper Counties and at Quantico Marine Base because horses on those facilities might have come in contact with an infected horse from the EMC. Virginia is testing all horses that have shown any symptoms that are compatible with EHV-1 on any of the 10 quarantined facilities. VDCAS officials and veterinarians at EMC are awaiting lab results on six additional horses at the present time. All premises in the four areas remain under quarantine until all test results are returned.
VDACS anticipates receiving results from the lab within the next day or two on the horses tested immediately after notification of the positive horse at the EMC. A horse with a high fever but no neurological symptoms was tested on Saturday and those samples sent to the lab on Monday, February 26. These results are not expected for several days.
Last weekend, Dr. Richard Wilkes, State Veterinarian, cancelled two equine events, the Casanova Point to Point and the Casanova Hunter Pace, because the event grounds were in close proximity to a farm quarantined because of EHV-1. At this point, he has not cancelled any other equine events in Virginia, although he does recommend that equine event managers consider voluntarily cancelling events that would bring large numbers of horses together. Other cancellations could occur this week if the EHV-1 outbreak in Virginia appears to grow.
VDACS recommends that horse owners and managers be aware of the signs of EHV-1 and practice good biosecurity to limit the spread of infection. The VDACS Web site contains updates (click here) on the situation, as well as fact sheets and biosecurity info. Horse-owners should also consult their veterinarians about the immunization status of their horses.