The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) reported on August 11th that a gelding at a private facility in Wellington County, Ontario has been euthanized after being confirmed with equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM) caused by equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection. The horse, which had not travelled off the property of his home barn in years, had been showing rapidly-progressing incoordination consistent with the disease.
The facility is under veterinary supervision and biosecurity protocols and movement restrictions have been put in place by the facility manager. Several horses from the affected facility had recently competed at a horse trials in Simcoe County, but none have shown signs of EHM to date. It is believed that the risk to other horses competing at that event is considered low given, as the horses from the affected facility were kept at their trailers and had limited interaction with other horses or competitors during the event. However, it is suggested that, out of an abundance of caution, owners of horses who attended the event should monitor the health of their horses, including rectal temperature, and contact their veterinarian if concerned.
More information about EHM here.
