On January 18, the Equine Disease Communication Center shared information from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) that confirmed two cases of equine herpesvirus viral abortion caused by equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) at a farm in Haldimand County.
One mare aborted during her ninth month of pregnancy, and the other aborted during her 10th month of pregnancy. One week prior to the abortions, two horses on the same farm suddenly developed neurological signs consistent with the neurological form of EHV-1 infection, also known as equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Those horses were euthanized and no further diagnostic testing was performed.
The farm owner has voluntarily placed the premises under quarantine to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
For more information go to http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/ahw/ehv.htm.
