No new cases of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) have been detected in California, according to a March 16 statement from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA); however, the organization recommends owners of potentially exposed horses continue monitoring their animals for clinical signs of disease.

Two geldings in California—one in Monterey County and one in San Diego County—tested positive for a non-neurologic strain of EHV-1 last week, according to the CDFA.

The horse in Monterey County displayed hind limb ataxia (incoordination) and was confirmed positive on March 14, the statement said. The San Diego County horse also displayed hind limb ataxia. He was confirmed EHV-1 positive on March 15, the organization noted. Both horses are under veterinary care; however, no further information on their immediate conditions was available.

New information relayed in Friday’s statement from the CDFA confirmed that both horses attended the HITS Horse Show in Thermal, Calif., during the event’s last week (March 5-11)