The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has placed a quarantine on a property in Burlington County following the diagnosis of equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in one horse due to equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).
A 17-year-old warmblood gelding displayed acute clinical signs on April 1 and is currently receiving treatment in a hospital. The remaining twenty-six horses on the property are now under quarantine.
There has been no recent movement of horses from this herd, minimizing the risk of disease spread from this isolated case. This EHM case is not related to the previous EHV-1 case reported in Burlington County in January 2026.
EDCC Health Watch is a program by Equine Network that uses data from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to provide verified equine disease reports. The EDCC is a nonprofit organization supported by industry donations to offer accessible infectious disease information.
Understanding EHV-1
Herpesvirus is highly contagious among horses and can lead to various conditions such as rhinopneumonitis, abortion in broodmares, and EHM.
In many cases, horses infected with EHV-1 may only exhibit fever as a symptom, which can often go unnoticed. Common signs in young horses include cough, reduced appetite, depression, and nasal discharge. Pregnant mares may show no signs before experiencing late-term abortions, which can occur weeks to months after infection.
Horses with EHM typically start with a fever and may display respiratory symptoms before neurological signs like incoordination, limb weakness or paralysis, urine retention, loss of tail tone, and recumbency develop.
The virus spreads through close contact with infected horses, contaminated equipment, or contact with individuals who have been in contact with infected horses. Adhering to biosecurity measures is crucial in preventing disease transmission.
While current EHV-1 vaccines may reduce viral shedding, they do not protect against the neurological form of the disease. Therefore, practicing routine biosecurity measures is essential in minimizing viral spread and preventing disease outbreaks.