The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumes Services confirmed a diagnosis of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopahty in a horse in central Virginia. On Jan. 31, the state veterinarian’s office confirmed that a horse exhibiting neurological signs and a fever tested positive for Equine Herpesvirus-1.

The stable in Chesterfield Country where the horse is boarded has been placed under quarantine. All exposed horses are being monitored twice daily for fever and other clinical signs and VDACS will be working with the stable’s owner to determine if any exposed horses have left the premises.

Updated Feb. 2.: The VDACS announced via it’s Facebook page that horse that tested positive was euthanized. An additional horse sparked a fever overnight but tested negative for EHV-1.

All exposed horses have been identified and have be isolated and will be monitored for 14 days.

Updated Feb. 6: The VDACS announced in a press release that nine horses at the effected stable have developed fevers, but none displayed neurologic signs. Veterinarians tested three of these horses for EHV-1, and one tested positive. The remaining horses will be tested over the next several days. The facility will remain under quarantine for 21 days following the last positive finding of EHV-1.

The febrile horses have been isolated on the farm and are under veterinary care. Four of the horses were transported to the isolation unit at Marion Dupont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Virginia, for additional care and monitoring. Because these horses were admitted under the established isolation protocol, the Equine Medical Center is not under quarantine and is accepting patients as normal.