Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) tests on more than 200 quarantined horses connected to the Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) circuit came back negative, reported Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) officials in a March 12 statement. As a result, several EHV-1 quarantines are slated to be lifted tomorrow.

"Sample collection for testing was performed at HITS Tents 3, 6, and 7 yesterday (all of which previously housed horses that tested positive for the disease after leaving the show grounds)," the statement said. "Additionally, several premises with quarantines outside of the HITS Showground were tested. In total, over 200 horses were tested and all laboratory results were negative. As a result, the HITS showground and several premises outside of the … showground are scheduled to be released from quarantine tomorrow (3/13/13)."

The HITS show grounds, located in Ocala, Fla., have been under quarantine since Feb. 27; seven horses connected to the facility have tested positive for EHV-1. Two of the seven developed neurologic signs and were treated at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The remaining five horses were quarantined at their home farms. Additionally, the FDACS quarantined several other facilities housing horses exposed to the disease at the HITS showgrounds. The FDACS stated that all EHV-1 quarantines would remain in effect for a minimum of 21 days from the last exposure. They listed Feb. 20 as the HITS showground’s last virus exposure.

On March 9 the FDACS reported that a horse residing at POD-F Farm, in Wellington, Fla., which had been housed in Tent 7 at the HITS facility, "completed testing (negative test results) and was released from quarantine 21 days after last date of exposure," officials noted in a release