New Jersey Department of Agriculture
Memo
To: Veterinarians
From: Nancy E. Halpern, D.V.M., State
Veterinarian
Date: October 25, 2006
Re: EHV-1 Update
While awaiting the test results on the EHV-1
suspect horses at Monmouth Park, the New Jersey Department of
Agriculture (NJDA) is making the following recommendations:
1. All equine veterinarians need to take
universal precautions until EHV-1 is either diagnosed or ruled out and
the extent of potential exposure is identified. If the horses at
Monmouth Park are positive for EHV-1, meeting will be held by NJDA at a
central location on Friday October 27, 2006, to review clinical signs,
testing, etc. The meeting time and location will be announced.
2. The following measures should be
implemented immediately:
- Any horse displaying clinical signs of EHV-1, including fever,
respiratory or neurologic signs should be isolated immediately from
other horses and will be placed under quarantine by the NJDA. Contact
NJDA at (609) 292-3965 if you have a horse suspect of infection with
EHV-1.
- Horses being held in quarantine barns should have their rectal
temperature taken 3 times a day.
- Other clinically normal horses on the premise should have their
rectal temperature taken 2 times a day.
- Horses exposed to a horse with clinical signs should be tested for
EHV-1, 7 days after the onset of clinical signs in the affected horse.
Samples to be collected for EHV-1 testing include blood in 2-3 EDTA
(purple top tube) and nasopharyngeal swabs. The New Jersey Animal Health
Diagnostic Laboratory is in the process of obtaining the capabilities to
conduct EHV-1 testing. In the meantime, please contact the University of
Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center at (859) 253-0571ext. 163,
for swabbing and sample submission protocol for EHV-1 testing.
- Personal and equipment biosecurity is key as the virus can spread
easily via fomites. The virus can last in the environment from one week
to several weeks under ideal conditions. Separate personnel and
equipment should be used for horses in the quarantine barn. Washing of
hands and equipment shall be performed between handling horses.
- Quarantine will be maintained for a minimum of 21 days after the
last suspected new infection.
3. Racing will continue at the Meadowlands with the following requirements:
- All horses shall have their rectal temperature taken before shipping to the Meadowlands -
those horses with a temperature above 101.0 F may not ship to the track.
- All horses shall have their rectal temperature taken before racing - those horses with a temperature
above 101.0 F will not be permitted to race and will be quarantined at the Meadowlands until found to be free of disease.
- Horses shipping to the Meadowlands from Monmouth Park must be held in barns separate from all other inships.
The only commingling of these horses should occur during the races.
- All starting gates and equipment shall be disinfected between races.
- Ponies must stay with inships or with Monmouth Park horses and cannot be shared between the groups.
- Inship horses SHALL NOT return to Monmouth Park for quarantine as adding naïve horses to the quarantined population may extend the quarantine period.
- All vans/shuttles/trailers shall be cleaned and disinfected before leaving Monmouth Park for the Meadowlands and when leaving the Meadowlands.
