Officials Monitoring Infectious Disease at Horse Farm

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Image: Virginia Department of Agricultire and Consumer Services

State agricultural officials are monitoring horses at a Prince William County farm where one horse had to be euthanized last week when it was detected with a neurologic disease.

Test results showed that the horse was “suspect-positive” for the neurologic strain of Equine Herpesvirus-1, according to the Virginia Department of Agricultire and Consumer Services (VDACS). The virus cannot be transmitted to humans.

All horses on the unidentified farm will be closely monitored for the 21 days past the date the so-called “index horse” was euthanized, VDACS said. The horses will not be permitted to move on or off the farm during the monitoring period.

The index horse had not traveled off the farm recently, and no other horses on the farm have shown any signs of disease, VDACS said.

Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), a neurological disease of horses caused by the Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), is a highly infectious disease among horses that usually affects the respiratory system, VDACS said. Occasionally, the virus may also cause neurological disease.

Symptoms of the disease can include a fever, difficulty urinating, depression, and stumbling or weakness in the hind limbs. In severe cases, horses will be unable to stand, VDACS said.