Equine Herpes Found In North Jersey Horse, Farm Quarantined

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ — A horse in Sussex County has tested positive for Equine Herpes, prompting officials to quarantine the farm it belonged to, according to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

Health officials said the 20-year-old mare developed “acute clinical signs” of the virus on Sunday and was humanely euthanized.

The week before, another horse developed similar symptoms and was put down without being diagnosed, according to officials.

The remaining horses on the Sussex County farm are now under quarantine and being closely monitored for symptoms, officials said. The horse herd has not traveled anywhere recently, making the risk of the virus spreading from this case “very low,” according to agricultural experts.

“The Department took swift action to prevent the disease from spreading to other horses by enacting a quarantine, which stops movement of horses in and out of the properties and puts in place preventive measures to contain the virus,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Edward Wengryn.

Equine Herpes, more specifically known as equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM), is the often-fatal neurologic form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) infection.

The virus can spread quickly from horse to horse, and can result in respiratory problems, especially in young horses, and spontaneous abortions in pregnant mares, with the neurologic form of the virus often fatal.

Signs of EHV-1 include respiratory disease, fever, nasal discharge, depression, cough, lack of appetite, and/or enlarged lymph nodes.

Horses infected with the neurological strain of EMV-1 may experience mild incoordination, hind-end weakness/paralysis, loss of bladder and tail function, and loss of sensation to the skin in the hind end, experts said.

The incubation period for the virus is usually two to ten days, according to experts.

While the virus is highly contagious, it doesn’t persist in environments for an extended period of time. It can be killed with hand soap, alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and sunlight.

Horse owners who suspect their horse may be infected with the virus should consult their veterinarian immediately, according to the NJ Department of Agriculture. The NJDA Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory will assist veterinarians with EHV-1 testing, and contact information can be found online here.