The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service’s Division of Animal Industry distributed the following Disease Report:

The Division of Animal Industry is currently investigating a possible EHV-1 outbreak in Wellington, Florida. On Monday Dec. 11, this office was contacted concerning two horses that had neurological signs consistent with EHV-1 infection. One of the horses was euthanatized on Sunday December 10 due to the severity of clinical signs. The existing neurological case, which we believe is the index case, is being treated and is isolated at a local veterinary clinic. Samples have been collected on six horses from the index barn and were submitted for PCR and virus isolation.

The index horse was imported from Europe through the Animal Import Center in New York and arrived in Wellington on November 29th The premises in Wellington that had both clinical cases is now under state quarantine.

This Division is continuing the investigation to determine if additional steps to prevent the spread of disease are indicated. Additional updates will be forthcoming as more information is obtained