The last of the quarantines imposed on several Florida horse farms due to a recent equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak were released Wednesday (April 10). The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), which managed the outbreak stemming from an EHV-1 positive horse formerly stabled at Ocala’s Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) facility, reported the restriction changes in an April 11 statement.

"The investigation has ended as there are no additional suspected or confirmed cases and all exposed horses have met the requirements for quarantine release." noted the FDACS statement.

Officials placed the HITS facility under quarantine Feb. 27 after seven horses connected to the facility tested positive for EHV-1. Two of the horses 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 while at the show grounds. The FDACS stated that all EHV-1 quarantines would remain in effect for a minimum of 21 days from the last exposure.

In early March officials began testing for disease and lifted quarantines if farms met release protocol, the statement said