Source: Equine Canada

Ottawa, ON — Equine Canada’s Health and Welfare Committee is notifying horse owners that Neurotropic Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1) has been confirmed in horses in Southern Ontario and California.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has been notified of a confirmed case of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), caused by EHV-1, in Southern Ontario. A blood sample from a horse with severe neurological signs tested positive for EHV-1 in early January. The horse was euthanized after its condition deteriorated. Another horse with similar signs was euthanized in late December on a separate location, but unfortunately no samples were taken so the case could not be confirmed as EHV-1.

California has had 16 confirmed cases of EVH-1 and two that are believed to have had Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy.  For constant updates, please refer to www.thehorse.com. The most recent links to this date are included below.

www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19467

http://www.poloblogs.com/tournaments-and-results/indio-horse-tests-...

www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2012/01/209.shtml

Equine Canada is working with Canada’s veterinarians to monitor the situation and keep our members abreast of developments in the United States and Canada. We will post new information and status updates regarding EHV-1 neurological cases on our website at www.equinecanada.ca.

EHV-1 is easily spread by sharing contaminated equipment, contact with an animal carrying the virus, or by the clothing, hands or equipment of visitors to farms who recently had contact with an infected horse.

Outbreak control of nEHV-1 is dependent on proper biosecurity or containment strategies.  Equine Canada strongly urges owners to consult the following resources to better understand the nature and control of this infectious disease:  

Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan

Facts About Equine Herpes Virus— http://bit.ly/khha91

University of Saskatchewan
http://blogs.usask.ca/EHRF/EHV%20fact%20sheet-1.MAR.20.pdf

OMAFRA
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/facts/prev-dis...
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/health.html

American Plant and Health Inspection Service
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/ehv/equine_herpesvirus_br...

Owners are encouraged to speak with their veterinarian if they have additional concerns or questions.