An outbreak of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) was confirmed in Bethany, Connecticut. Clinical signs were seen on December 5, 2017, in a private facility. One horse was confirmed positive at Cornell University on December 10, 2017. Currently a 4-year-old Quarter Horse mare was confirmed positive and tests on three Quarter Horse geldings (a 20-year-old, a 14-year-old and a 26-year-old) are pending.
Clinical signs include 102-104 degree fevers, mild inappetence and hindlimb ataxia with dribbling urine.
All horses, which were vaccinated, are alive and receiving treatment.
Potentially 30-35 horses have been exposed. Currently 20 horses are in a quarantine established by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.
The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) works to protect horses and the horse industry from the threat of infectious diseases in North America. The communication system is designed to seek and report real time information about disease outbreaks similar to how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerts the human population about diseases in people.
