A case of EHV-1 has been confirmed at NC State veterinary school. Below the Q&A is a link to the article posted by the veterinary school. You will probably have questions about what this means for you and your horse. I hope to answer some questions with the following information.

What is EHV-1?

• EHV-1 is Equine Herpesvirus type , which is usually associated with respiratory disease but has also been associated with late term abortion, neonatal foal death, and in this case, neurological disease.
• It is contagious and is spread directly between horses via direct horse-to-horse contact, by contaminated hands, equipment and tack, and, for a short time, through aerosolization of the virus within the environment of the stall and stable. It is NOT spread by mosquitoes or flies.
  3. It is NOT contagious at other animals or people.

What are the signs of EHV-1?

• The first symptom usually is a fever of 102°F or greater.
• Other presenting signs may be combinations of fever and respiratory symptoms of nasal discharge and cough. Some horses have reddish mucous membranes.
• Affected horses that develop neurological disease develop signs
  7-12 days after the initial fever. They typically become uncoordinated and have trouble walking and standing. Difficulty urinating and defecating may also occur. Often the rear limbs are more severely affected than the front. Other advanced signs include extreme lethargy, abnormal function of the eyes or face, difficulty swallowing, and a coma-like state.

Is EHV-1 fatal?

• If left untreated it usually is fatal.
• An affected horse can be saved with supportive care. This can be a long and extensive treatment.
• The sooner a horse is treated, the better the chance of survival.

What can I do to prevent my horse from getting this disease?

• There is no vaccination for the neurological form of EHV-1 but there are vaccinations available to protect horses from most other forms of EHV-1.
• I recommend keeping your horse's vaccination current for EHV, as it can help prevent the respiratory form and MIGHT have cross protection for the neurological form, although this is not proven.
• Reduce or eliminate your horse's exposure to other horses, especially new or different horses.
• Reduce or eliminate stressful situations such as moving, showing or breeding.
• When showing or traveling always bring your own water buckets, hay nets and supplies. Do NOT share with other horses.
• When spending time away from home, like at a show facility, do not pet, handle, or otherwise touch other horses or their equipment before handling your own horse.
• When spending time away from home, like at a show facility, choose stalls that are furthest away from horse and people traffic.

What do I do if I think that my horses has been exposed or is showing signs of disease?

• Call your veterinarian immediately, again early treatment increases the chances of survival.
• Do not move your horse to a new stable or facility until a diagnosis has been made.
• Decontaminate equipment and the environment with a solution of 1 part chlorine bleach to 10 parts water.

If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail or call me at 828-447-9600.

Thanks,
Dr.B

Link to the NC State Article:

http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/news/2012-01-05-Equine-Herpesvirus-Case-Being-Treated-At-NC-State-College-of-Veterinary-Medicine.html

Below is a link to the document that the AAEP released on the neurologic equine herpies outbreak that has now reached North Carolina.

| Click to download a PDF file - EHV Update Release 05.19.11 |