In many horses, the first or only sign of EHV-1 infection is fever, which can go undetected. | Photo: Alexandra Beckstett/The Horse

The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported April 10 that two horses in Ontario, Canada, have tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).

“On April 2, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs was notified of a confirmed case of equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM, the neurologic form of EHV-1) … at a facility with both competition and resident horses in the Regional Municipality of York,” the EDCC said. “An unvaccinated senior gelding was euthanized after developing sudden and severe neurological signs.”

Subsequently, the EDCC reported, “a second horse, which had been stabled at the same facility in the Municipality of York for a short period of time prior to returning to the District of Cochrane … developed intermittent fevers and has also tested positive for EHV-1.” The second horse is recovering