At least two Iowa horses have been euthanized after battling what officials believe might be the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). According to Iowa State Veterinarian John Schiltz, DVM, officials know of only one premise possibly affected by the virus, where these two horses lived. “Some of the preliminary tests have come back negative, but the definitive testing is not yet completed. I”m hearing lots of rumors about other possible cases,” he said.

“There are elements of the case in Iowa that could be considered (consistent) with equine herpesvirus,” he said, and others that aren’t consistent with the disease. “None of the animals have exhibited any respiratory symptoms,” he explained, symptoms that are often seen before signs of neurological illness appear. He emphasized that EHV-1 hasn’t been ruled out since neurologic signs were associated with the recent Findlay, Ohio, outbreak