The Mid-Atlantic Veterinary Clinic in Ringoes, New Jersey, has been quarantined by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health
after a horse there tested positive for the equine herpes virus (EHV-1).
The horse had been at Monmouth Park before a quarantine was issued on October
27 for more than 1,000 horses stabled there after an outbreak of the virus was
detected. He went to the Mid-Atlantic Clinic for colic surgery and was
recovering when tested twice for equine herpes. The first test came back
negative, but the second one was positive for the virus.
The Department of Agriculture has begun efforts to track all horses who came
into contact with the Mid-Atlantic horse, and any horses who came into contact
with those identified. According to the latest information available, 36 horses
have been traced back to the
Mid-Atlantic horse and have been tested for EHV.
“This case in Ringoes shows the vital importance of quarantines for diseases
like equine herpes,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus.
“Just one horse that left Monmouth Park before the quarantine was imposed there
has now created the necessity for tests of 36 others. Multiply that by the more than
1,000 horses at the racetrack and you can see how diseases like this can spread
exponentially unless quarantine measures are taken.”
The infected horse had minimal contact with other horses at Mid-Atlantic,
and 20 exposed or potentially exposed horses at the clinic have been quarantined
in isolation barns. One horse that had contact with the infected horse had been
relocated to a rehabilitation facility, and that facility has been quarantined
as well. All horses at that facility will be tested prior to release from
quarantine.
Medical and surgery barns at the Mid-Atlantic Clinic have been vacated,
cleaned and disinfected twice. Under strict biosecurity measures, the clinic
will be allowed to continue providing services to patients.