The University of Tennessee (UT) Veterinary Medical Center is currently under quarantine after a horse brought to the hospital with clinical signs of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) was euthanized. Test results confirmed the horse was positive for the neurologic strain of the virus.

"On Sept. 15 a down (recumbent) horse was brought to the Equine Hospital at the UT Veterinary Medical Center at 2:00 p.m.," a statement from the hospital read. "The horse was kept in a separate area of the equine hospital. Within hours the horse’s condition deteriorated, and the animal was euthanized."

"Our laboratory and an outside independent laboratory have both confirmed that the index horse that was euthanized within hours of being admitted was positive for the neurotrophic (neurologic) form of EHV-1," said Sandra Harbison, media relations director for UT College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Tennessee State Veterinarian implemented a seven day quarantine, effective Sept. 16, however Harbison noted the hospital also began its own 14-day quarantine period, also effective the morning of Sept. 16, and the statement indicated the hospital "expects to maintain voluntary isolation for an additional period of time as clinicians investigate a neurologic case" of the virus