Neurologic Equine Herpesvirus Confirmed in Maryland Horse
In many horses, the first or only sign of EHV-1 infection is fever, which can go undetected. | Photo: Stephanie L. Church/The Horse
The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Animal Health Program confirmed a Howard County horse as positive for the neurologic strain of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) on June 22. According to an MDA statement, the horse was euthanized due to complications.

The farm at which the horse resided has been placed on a hold order, prohibiting movement of horses on or off the property until all 27 exposed horses have been cleared. None of the exposed horses currently shows clinical signs of EHV-1 or fever.

The attending veterinarian and the stable management are monitoring the farm’s horses, and MDA is investigating possible links to the positive horse. The MDA cautions other horse owners to contact their veterinarians if a horse exhibits fever or neurologic signs.

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 equine herpesvirus myeloencephalitis (EHM, the neurologic form)

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