The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) reported Feb. 13 that a horse from San Diego County, which was previously stabled at the HITS show grounds, in Thermal, California, has tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).

“A 10-year-old Warmblood gelding in San Diego County displaying neurologic signs of urine dribbling and hind-limb ataxia (incoordination) was confirmed positive for equine herpesvirus-1 by the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, the state’s regulatory laboratory,” the department said in a statement. “Based on the clinical signs and positive laboratory test, this horse meets the case definition for equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), a condition which requires regulatory action.

“The neurologic signs were first noted on Tuesday February 7,” the statement said. “The positive horse was stabled in Tent 21 at the HITS Show in Thermal, California, from January 21 to February 5. The EHM horse and one additional exposed horse have been quarantined at their home premises in San Diego County. (The) CDFA has been in contact with HITS show management and veterinarians to ensure enhanced biosecurity measures are taken on the premises, including cleaning and disinfecting the stabling area.”

The CDFA recommended any exposed or potentially exposed horses be observed for clinical signs and have temperatures taken twice daily