Skip First Level Navigation | Skip All Navigation

Home > News Archive

Department News

Back to News Headlines

Update on the EHV-1 Situation in Maine

May 2, 2007

Contact: Donald E. Hoenig, VMD, State Veterinarian, Maine
207-287-3701

Both farms affected by the recent outbreak of equine herpes virus 1, neurologic form, (EHV-1) remain under quarantine pending the results of laboratory testing which was sent to the University of California, Davis lab during the week of April 23. Due to a technical problem with testing reagents at the UC Davis diagnostic lab, there has been a delay in receiving these test results. We have been informed by the lab that we should be receiving results shortly.

All horses on both farms have had their temperatures monitored twice daily and have remained healthy and free from evidence of EHV-1. The horse which had been ill due to EHV-1 infection on the Wales farm continues to recover. As soon as test results are received from California, the Division of Animal Health and Industry website will be updated. There have been no further reports of neurologic illness in Maine.

A note on the rationale for vaccinating horses for EHV-1: Currently, there is no vaccine which protects against the neurologic form of EHV-1. However, vaccinated horses, when exposed to the virus, shed less virus and for a shorter period of time. Maintaining vaccinations can help minimize the spread within an exposed population and are important in outbreak containment.