Leesburg, Va., Equine Medical Center Under Herpesvirus Quarantine
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Feb. 21, 2007 - State officials have imposed a quarantine of the Virginia Tech Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center's facilities effective immediately due to the suspected infection of the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) in three hospitalized horses.
No additional patients will be admitted to the hospital until further notice. Clients who have questions or concerns regarding their horse should call the hospital's main telephone line at 703/771-6800. Hospital officials expect the quarantine to last anywhere from 14 to 28 days.
Equine herpesvirus-1, one of several strains of the equine herpesvirus, is a highly contagious disease that, although not transmissible to humans, can cause respiratory signs, abortion, peri-natal infection, encephalitis, and other complications in horses. It is spread from infected horses, which shed the virus through nasal fluids and bodily secretions, by both aerosol transmission and by direct contact with horses affected with the virus. Symptoms include fever, coughing, nasal discharge, loss of balance, urinary retention and recumbency.
"Based on the clinical signs and one positive test from the first horse with neurologic signs, we are treating this as an infection with EHV-1. We are taking extraordinary precautions and following the most stringent procedures possible in order to protect the horses in our care as well as the general equine population," said Nat White, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, Jean Ellen Shehan Professor and director of the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center. "The health and safety of our patients is our first priority."
According to White, a horse brought to the hospital Feb. 7 to be treated for an unrelated emergency subsequently developed a fever and signs of nervous disease. The horse was immediately isolated in the hospital's Biosafety Level 2 isolation unit. Initial PCR testing revealed that the horse was positive for the EHV-1 virus.
"Though this test can have false positive results, we are treating this as a true infection," said White.
In addition, hospital officials elected to impose a voluntary quarantine of patients in the area of the hospital where a risk of exposure was possible. These horses were promptly separated from the rest of the hospital's equine population in designated isolation barns.
As of the morning of Feb. 20, two additional horses being treated at the center for unrelated problems developed fever and neurological symptoms leading state officials to deem necessary an immediate quarantine of all hospital facilities.
"The center has always followed strict biosafety procedures governing patient care, movement in and out of the isolation unit, and cleaning of stalls between each horse occupancy in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases," said Martin Furr, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, PhD, Adelaide C. Riggs Chair in Equine Medicine at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center. "However, this quarantine, which is the first that we've had since the center was opened in 1984, has been implemented to ensure that there is no chance of spreading the virus."
Equine herpesvirus-1 is a reportable disease and the state veterinarians of Virginia and Maryland were notified on Feb. 19. The mandate to quarantine the facilities was issued by Virginia State Veterinarian's Office on the afternoon of Feb. 20. Referring veterinarians and owners of all horses that may have been exposed to the disease have also been informed.
"I would like to emphasize that though these are not confirmed cases of EHV-1 by virus isolation or serology, we are implementing appropriate measures to prevent the spread of any contagions," said White. "We are taking this situation very seriously and will do whatever is necessary to safeguard the well-being of our patients." Courtesy of TheHorse Press Release
Related EHV1 Articles:
Jan 9, 2007 - EHV-1, Daily Status Table and Definitions. Of the 13 infected horses 7 have neurological signs. Read more>
Jan. 7th & 8th, 2007 - No new clinical cases reported. No new quarantines issued. Quarantine at Payson Park modified on 01/06/07 Read more>
Jan. 4, 5, & 6, 2007 No new clinical cases reported. No new quarantines issued. Read more>
Jan. 1, 2 & 3, 2007, & Dec. 31st, 2006- No new clinical cases reported for the past 4 days. No new quarantines issued. Read more>
Dec. 30, 2006 8pm, One new death, one new clinical case at Palm Beach Equine Sports Complex already under state quarantine. AM: One new presumed infected case located at a facility already under state quarantine.
Dec. 30, 2006 8pm, Current Situation: One new death, one new clinical case at Palm Beach Equine Sports Complex already under state quarantine. No new quarantines issued today. AM: One new presumed infected case located at a facility already under state quarantine.
Dec. 29, 2006 Current Situation: One new confirmed case of equine herpesvirus located at a facility already under state quarantine. No new quarantines issued as of Dec. 28th
Dec. 28, 2006 No new confirmed cases or quarantines at this time. Three strike teams collected temperature check charts, stall inventories, and trainer contacts from all facilities under mandatory state quarantine. Dr. Diane Kitchen is tracing movements of the exposed and infected horses. Dr. Mike Short is corresponding with area veterinarians on health and testing issues. Public Information Officer Mark Fagan is preparing Spanish language information sheets for distribution. (FLSART)
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