The Utah state veterinarian’s office has lifted all quarantines that have been in place since equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) was discovered in Cache County in late February, the department announced April 8. 

The quarantine removals come after the last two horses at locations in that county passed a 28-day waiting period without becoming sick after coming in contact with diseased horses.

There was a total of nine confirmed cases of EHV-1 in Utah, all of which were confined to five locations in Cache County. Four of the affected horses were euthanized because of their condition. The state veterinarian’s office restricted the movement of infected and suspect animals as a precaution to prevent the spread of the disease.

The Cache County Fairgrounds Horse Arena was temporarily closed during this outbreak because the affected horses had been at the facility shortly before displaying clinical signs. Officials suspect that a common tie-down rail at the arena was contaminated by an infected horse and was the center of the outbreak