The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has completed its epidemiological investigation after confirming equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in two horses in central Virginia.

As reported on Feb. 28, the State Veterinarian’s Office at VDACS confirmed that two horses exhibiting neurological signs were euthanized and tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), the virus that causes EHM.

There is no link between the two horses and the timing of the EHM finding is coincidental. One horse was housed at the Hazelwild Equestrian Center, in Fredericksburg, and the second was located on a private farm in Powhatan County. Both facilities have been placed under quarantine. All exposed horses are being monitored twice daily for fever (temperature over 101.5°F) and other clinical signs.

No additional Virginia horses have been exposed. Several horses from Maryland visited the Hazelwild Equestrian Center last weekend for an Interscholastic Equestrian Association show; the farms in Maryland associated with these horses have been quarantined and all horses will be monitored