The Maryland Department of Agriculture confirmed April 7 that there have been no new cases of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) reported since April 4, when one horse stabled in Anne Arundel County tested positive for the non-neuropathogenic strain of the virus.

The farm was placed on 21-day investigational hold when the first case was confirmed on April 4 and strict biosecurity measures are in place to ensure that no visitors or vendors carry the disease onto other farms. There has been no movement of horses on or off the farm since that date.

The farm’s attending veterinarian and animal health inspectors from the Maryland Department of Agriculture have been closely monitoring all horses on the farm and have found no new cases of the virus. Epidemiologic links to the sick horse have been notified of the situation and owners are cautioned to monitor horses at their premises carefully.

“We have received many calls from concerned stable owners and event organizers since the original case was confirmed earlier this week,” said State Veterinarian Michael Radebaugh, DVM. “We have no reason to believe that the disease has spread beyond this specific farm. Horses are latent carriers of the EHV-1 virus, and under certain conditions, (carriers can) breakout with this disease. In Maryland, we experience a few isolated cases of EHV-1 every year