Since equine herpesvirus (EHV) is not a federally reportable disease, state officials have become better at communicating among themselves when there might be a problem involving EHV. Such was the case when a shipment of 15 horses from Germany was quarantined at a New York facility, and horses from that shipment have been confirmed wtih the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).

Those 15 horses were dispersed across the country. One gelding was sent to California (via Kentucky) and later died of the neurologic form of EHV-1. Five of the imported horses were shipped to Florida, where two are showing neurologic signs and three are in isolation. Three Florida horses that came in contact with the imported horses have died, with neurologic EHV-1 confirmed in at least one horse. Four other Florida horses that were in contact with imported horses are showing neurologic signs.

A mare from the import group was sent to Kentucky in a trailer with the gelding that later died of neurologic EHV-1 in California, according to Rusty Ford, Equine Programs Manager with the Kentucky State Veterinarian’s office  The van was officially sealed when it left New York since the mare had to undergo testing for contagious equine metritis (CEM, a venereal disease) upon reaching Kentucky. The gelding was the only other horse in the trailer during the New York to Kentucky transit.

The mare was detained for contagious equine metritis (CEM) testing, then was held for EHV-1 testing until today (Dec. 19), according to Ford. She was released after testing and incubation periods showed she is not positive for EHV-1. Ford said when the trailer arrived, the gelding was not examined, but he was observed to have no obvious abnormalities, said Ford