PrintHundreds of concerned horse owners gathered at the Best Western hotel in Leesburg, Va., on the evening of Feb. 26 to hear the latest information on the EHV-1 outbreak that has left 10 premises quarantined in four counties in Virginia and 13 premises quarantined in six counties in Maryland.
So far only one horse has died of the neurological herpes virus—a horse that originated in Fauquier County, Va., went to the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center and was later euthanized at a convalescent center in Harford County, Md. This is the only positive case of EHV-1 so far in Maryland. Maryland State Veterinarian Guy Hohenhaus reported that 40 to 50 tests had been sent to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Laboratory.
“The bad news is that we have one property in Maryland that had a confirmed case,” said Hohenhaus (pictured left). “We’re still waiting for quite a few more test results. If we get negative tests back on these primarily discharged patients, and everything goes well and according to our protocol, then we hope to release some additional properties in the next 24 to 36 hours. As of this evening, we’ve released, unconditionally, one property in Montgomery County.”
Tests results should come in any day for four horses displaying herpes virus symptoms on quarantined farms in Virginia. Two of these horses are displaying neurological symptoms but are recovering.
Virginia State Veterinarian Richard Wilkes put to rest some scary rumors that had been circulating. The Virginia borders aren’t closed to horses traveling in and out, and there’s no plan to do so. Wilkes did cancel two events, the Casanova Hunt Point-to-Point and the Casanova Hunter Pace in Fauquier County last weekend because the event grounds were in close proximity to a farm quarantined because of EHV-1. At this point, he’s not cancelled any other equine events in Virginia.
“We did reach out to the horse industry and ask all of you and your event managers to consider some voluntary cancellations, and you’ve responded accordingly,” said Wilkes (pictured right). “I thank you for that. I know it was not an easy decision for many of you.”
The Master of Foxhounds Association leadership responded by canceling the Virginia and Maryland hunts for the time being.
This outbreak of EHV-1 originated at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Va., and veterinarians from the medical center reviewed the timeline of the disease, discussed their current status and explained the plan for eventually reopening the facility.
So far only one horse has died of the neurological herpes virus—a horse that originated in Fauquier County, Va., went to the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center and was later euthanized at a convalescent center in Harford County, Md. This is the only positive case of EHV-1 so far in Maryland. Maryland State Veterinarian Guy Hohenhaus reported that 40 to 50 tests had been sent to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Laboratory.
“The bad news is that we have one property in Maryland that had a confirmed case,” said Hohenhaus (pictured left). “We’re still waiting for quite a few more test results. If we get negative tests back on these primarily discharged patients, and everything goes well and according to our protocol, then we hope to release some additional properties in the next 24 to 36 hours. As of this evening, we’ve released, unconditionally, one property in Montgomery County.”Tests results should come in any day for four horses displaying herpes virus symptoms on quarantined farms in Virginia. Two of these horses are displaying neurological symptoms but are recovering.
Virginia State Veterinarian Richard Wilkes put to rest some scary rumors that had been circulating. The Virginia borders aren’t closed to horses traveling in and out, and there’s no plan to do so. Wilkes did cancel two events, the Casanova Hunt Point-to-Point and the Casanova Hunter Pace in Fauquier County last weekend because the event grounds were in close proximity to a farm quarantined because of EHV-1. At this point, he’s not cancelled any other equine events in Virginia.
“We did reach out to the horse industry and ask all of you and your event managers to consider some voluntary cancellations, and you’ve responded accordingly,” said Wilkes (pictured right). “I thank you for that. I know it was not an easy decision for many of you.”
The Master of Foxhounds Association leadership responded by canceling the Virginia and Maryland hunts for the time being.
This outbreak of EHV-1 originated at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Va., and veterinarians from the medical center reviewed the timeline of the disease, discussed their current status and explained the plan for eventually reopening the facility.
