Disease Alerts

On Tuesday, January 16, 2018 a horse recently admitted to the University of Pennsylvania’s large animal hospital New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, for non-neurologic symptoms, tested positive for equine herpesvirus (EHV-1), and was ultimately displaying neurologic signs compatible with equine herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). This horse had a non-traditional presentation for EHM; including a single low-grade fever and several days of normal temperature prior to the development of neurologic signs. The horse was euthanized. New Bolton Center has canceled all elective, equine appointments pending further instructions from the regional state veterinarian.  New Bolton Center will receive equine or camelid (also susceptible to EHV-1) emergency admissions during this time, and all cows, goats, sheep, or pig patients can be admitted and discharged without restriction. New Bolton Center is working with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to contain any possible spread of the infection and to determine the duration of the quarantine. Owners and referring veterinarians of the horses still at New Bolton are being notified and biosecurity measures have been implemented to protect hospitalized horses.