The Maryland Department of Agriculture confirmed three cases of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) with 44 horses exposed on a farm in Montgomery County.
The index horse was sent to the Equine Medical Center (EMC) in Leesburg, Virginia, for treatment and was later euthanized due to complications. Two other horses from the same barn were sent to EMC for diagnosis and isolation and are currently under treatment.
The Montgomery County farm has been placed on a hold order by the Department, prohibiting movement on or off the farm until any exposed horses have been cleared for release.
The horse was previously housed in an isolated barn with 44 other horses. The veterinary practitioner and stable are providing follow-up care to the horses on the farm. Possible links to the positive EHV-1 equine are actively being investigated.
Owners are cautioned to monitor horses carefully, and they should contact their private veterinarians to arrange for EHV-1 testing if a horse exhibits significant temperature elevations or neurologic signs.
Veterinarians are required to report equine neurologic syndrome to the Department by calling the Animal Health Program at 410-841-5810.
For more information about EHV-1 read this Fact Sheet.
Information for this report was provided by the Equine Disease Communication Center.
