New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health

Memo

To: Veterinarians

From: Nancy E. Halpern, D.V.M., State Veterinarian

Date: February 1, 2006

Re: Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV-1) confirmed at Penn National Track

         As of Friday, January 20, 2006, Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV-1) has been confirmed in a live horse at Penn National Track. The track has isolated the private barn with the affected horse and has imposed strict biosecurity procedures to prevent the disease from spreading. Recently there have been two other outbreaks of EHV-1 this year, one in Maryland at Pimlico Racetrack and Laurel Park and another in Kentucky at Turfway Park and the West Kentucky Training Center. Turfway Park was released from quarantine on 2-1-06, but the West Kentucky Training Center and the premises in Maryland still remain under quarantine.

        The EHV-1 organism spreads quickly from horse to horse and can cause respiratory problems especially in young horses, spontaneous abortions in pregnant mares, and the neurologic form of the virus can reach high morbidity and mortality rates.

        This is a reminder to prevent the importation of this virus to New Jersey, or to limit its spread; we recommend the implementation of precautionary measures on any premise with potential contact with infected horses. At this time, only one horse at Penn National Racetrack has been found infected. Precautionary measures include any routine biosecurity measures that minimize the spread of agents of disease in the environment. The NJDA Animal Health laboratory provides serological testing for EHV for New Jersey veterinarians at no charge. The University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center will perform PCR on EDTA blood samples. The neurological form of EHV is considered a reportable disease in New Jersey. If you have a horse exhibiting neurological signs or suspect Equine Herpes please call the Division of Animal Health at 609-292-3965.