Horse Tests Positive For Herpes In Burlington County

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — An 18-year-old horse has contracted the "highly infectious" equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM) virus in Burlington County, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture said.

A property in the region, along with 18 remaining horses and ponies on the grounds, has been quarantined. The animals are being monitored for sickness.

The risk of spread is low, officials said, due to the lack of recent horse movement by the herd.

The virus does not affect humans or other domestic animals, aside from llamas and alpacas.

EHM can be deadly and is a neurologic form of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1).

The organism spreads rapidly from horse to horse and can cause respiratory issues, more so in younger animals.

It can also cause spontaneous abortions in pregnant mares.

The typical incubation period is two to 10 days.

The infected horse, an Oldenburg gelding, began showing acute clinical signs on May 19 and was taken to the hospital.

Clinical signs may show as respiratory disease, fever, nasal discharge, depression, cough, lack of appetite, and/or enlarged lymph nodes.

Horses with the neurologic variety may show mild incoordination, hind-end weakness/paralysis, loss of bladder and tail function, and loss of sensation to the hind end.

The virus is contracted through direct contact with infected materials and is endemic in the United States.

It does not linger in the environment and can be neutralized by hand soap, alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and sunlight, officials said.

Horse owners who have questions or concerns regarding an animal's behavior should contact their veterinarian before taking any further action.

There are no known connections between this case and any others in Burlington County.

This latest diagnosis marks the third for New Jersey in 2026.

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