Additional quarantines put in place after equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) was detected in a horse previously stabled at the Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) facility in Ocala, Fla., have been released, according to a March 18 statement from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).

Officials placed the HITS showgrounds under quarantine Feb. 27 after several horses connected to the facility tested positive for EHV-1. Two of the seven developed neurologic signs and were treated at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The remaining five horses were quarantined at their home farms. Additionally, the FDACS quarantined several other facilities housing horses exposed to the disease while at the showgrounds. The FDACS stated that all EHV-1 quarantines would remain in effect for a minimum of 21 days from the last exposure.

Beginning in early March and after the appropriate length of time, disease testing began and officials began releasing quarantines if farms met release protocol, the statement said. The following facilities connected to the HITS outbreak have been released from quarantine:

• POD-F Farm, Wellington (released March 9, 2013)
• Up Country Farm, Ocala (partially released March 13, 2013)
• Kings Ridge Farm, Reddick (released March 13, 2013)
• Redfield Farm, Ocala (partially released March 13, 2013)
• Chestnut Hill Farm (Wisconsin-based farm, Ocala temporary location released March 13, 2013)
• Entire HITS showgrounds, Ocala (released March 13, 2013)
• Up Country Farm/Synergy Farm, Ocala (released March 14, 2013)
• Brookmore Farm, Oviedo (released March 17, 2013)

Several additional facilities remain under quarantine, the statement said