The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has been notified of a case of equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM), caused by equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), in the Ottawa region.

The horse is currently receiving veterinary care at a referral center. OMAFRA has notified all veterinarians associated with animals that had contact with the suspect case in the preceding 10 to 14 days.

EHV-1 infection in horses can cause respiratory disease, abortion, neonatal foal death, and/or neurologic disease. Disease associated with EHV-1 infection is not federally reportable in Canada but detection of the neuropathogenic strain is immediately notifiable by laboratories under the reporting regulation of the provincial Animal Health Act. Attending veterinarians suspicious of EHM should contact OMAFRA as soon as possible