The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) offers alerts about equine diseases that have been confirmed by reliable sources. The following information is from the EDCC.
New Jersey EHM Quarantine Released
On April 4, 2017, New Jersey reported the first case of neurologic equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) for the year. The index horse and 14 exposed horses were quarantined on March 31, 2017, at the index farm in Somerset County and a veterinary hospital in Hunterdon County after receiving positive PCR results for EHV-1 in a neurologic horse. No recent travel occurred at the index farm in Somerset County.
On April 4, 2017, seven of the nine horses housed in the main building at the veterinary hospital were relocated to a remote facility in Hunterdon County, which was subsequently quarantined as well. This allowed the hospital to clean and disinfect their main building before re-opening on April 8, 2017. The index horse remained in isolation at the hospital to continue receiving treatment. Temperatures were taken twice daily for 21 days at all three quarantined facilities while following strict biosecurity protocols. The index horse has received treatment and is recovering.
The index horse and exposed horses were released from quarantine April 21 after 21 days of intense monitoring. No fevers or clinical signs were noted in the exposed horses. There are no premises under quarantine for neurologic EHV-1 in New Jersey at this time.
For more information visit the New Jersey Department of Agriculture website.
About EDCC
The Equine Disease Communication Center 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.
The goal of the EDCC is to alert the horse industry about disease outbreak information to help mitigate and prevent the spread of disease. Ultimately frequent and accurate information about diseases outbreaks improves horse welfare and helps to prevent negative economic impact that can result from decreased horse use due to a fear of spreading infection. As part of the National Equine Health Plan the EDCC will serve as part of the communication to help educate and promote research about endemic and foreign disease.
Working in cooperation with state animal health officials and the United State Department of Agriculture, the EDCC seeks information about current disease outbreaks from news media, social media, official state reports and veterinary practitioners. Once information is confirmed, it is immediately posted on this website and messages sent to all states and horse organizations by email. Daily updates are posted until each outbreak is contained or deemed no longer a threat.
The EDCC is made possible by generous donations from organizations and horse owners. Please visit our sponsors that have generously supported this program for the benefit of the health and welfare of horses. To learn how you can help go to SUPPORT.