The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) announced Jan. 18 that the quarantine at the New Orleans Fair Grounds Racetrack facility could be lifted Jan. 21. Testing indicates there are no new cases of neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1, also known as equine herpes myeloencephalopathy or EHM).

The last case of EHM was detected on Dec. 31, 2016. Horses, however, are still being monitored for signs of both EHM and EHV-1.

The quarantine will phase out starting with the 42 barns where horses never showed signs of being clinically ill.

“We are encouraged that the disease seems to be contained,” said Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM. “These measures were taken for the health and safety of all horses in the state. We continue to work with the Fair Grounds and (Louisiana State) Racing Commission to ensure that biosecurity measures will be maintained