Nathaniel White, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, Jean Ellen Shehan Professor and Director of the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Va., stated late this afternoon (March 29), “I am pleased to announce that yesterday, I received the EHV-1 (equine herpesvirus-1) test results for the remaining six horses in the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center’s isolation unit. All the tests were negative and all these horses will be release as soon as arrangements can be made for transport or whenever their original medical problem is resolved. Based on the test results, Dr. Wilkes (Virginia State Veterinairan Richard Wilkes, DVM) verbally released the center from the quarantine on Wednesday, March 28. The center will reopen for outpatients on Friday, March 30, and will resume full operations, including inpatient and emergency care, on Monday, April 2.”

As noted in an earlier release, all of the center’s facilities have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to ensure the safety and well-being of the patients. “We are prepared provide renew the highest quality of care and service to the equine community,” said White.

An opening day informational meeting featuring presentations by the center’s faculty will be held from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 30, in the hospital’s library. Clients and referring veterinarians who are interested in learning more about EHV-1 prevention and general biosecurity are encouraged to attend. (Note: An announcement for the meeting is included below.)

“My thanks to the regulatory officials, university representatives, industry members, and horse owners who worked closely with me to contain the disease and provide timely and accurate information to all concerned,” said White. “The cooperation resulted in preventing a wide spread epidemic and relatively quick resolution of this outbreak. I am particularly proud of the Center’s faculty and staff who identified the problem and quickly adapted schedules and activities to care for the isolated horses