The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported Nov. 9 that a Warren County, New Jersey, horse has tested positive for equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).

“The New Jersey Department of Agriculture confirmed … the 25-year old Quarter Horse was euthanized on Nov. 2, 2017,” the EDCC said. “There are other horses on the premises that were exposed to the affected horse, as well as other horses at a New Jersey horse show were potentially exposed.

“Immediate biosecurity measures are in effect at the home premises and will be in place for the duration of the 21-day quarantine. Additionally, all the horses on the quarantined premises will be temperature checked twice daily in order to confirm the virus is not spreading. Currently, one of the exposed horses at the home premises has demonstrated an increase in temperature. Trace-backs are currently being performed for all potentially exposed horses.”

Herpesvirus is highly contagious among horses and can cause a variety of ailments in equids, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and EHM. In many horses, fever is the only sign of EHV-1 infection, which can go undetected