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

On Dec, 18, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) confirmed an 18-year-old Standardbred mare from Monmouth County with the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), also known as equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy. The mare was euthanized on Dec. 18, and officials quarantined the property on which she resided. Other horses on the property are receiving twice-daily temperature monitoring to detect potential new cases.

“The department took swift action to prevent the disease from spreading to other horses by enacting a quarantine, which stops movement of horses in and out of the property and puts in place preventive measures to contain the virus,” said Douglas H, Fisher, New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture, in a Dec. 22 statement

EHV 101

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