[January 19, 2018, Kennett Square, PA] – The University of Pennsylvania’s large animal hospital, New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, continues to work with state authorities to respond to the EHV-1 situation identified on January 16, 2018.
On Tuesday, January 16th, a horse that had been hospitalized for an unrelated medical issue developed signs compatible with equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM) and tested positive for equine herpesvirus (EHV-1). Since then, an additional febrile horse housed in an adjacent barn has tested positive for EHV-1 and has been moved into the on-site, state-of-the-art isolation facility with dedicated staff that are entirely separate from any personnel handling the other horses.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has traced and quarantined horses suspected of having been exposed to the virus that had already left New Bolton Center prior to the diagnosis of EHM at that location. In Pennsylvania, Orders of Special Quarantine have been posted at premises that received these potentially exposed animals to control the spread of this diseases.
Along with increased biosecurity, these locations are required to conduct twice daily temperature checks and monitor and report any horses showing signs of EHV-1 infection. As of the time of this publication, there have been no febrile or neurologic horses detected on the quarantined farms.
Another Pennsylvania premise that had contact with one of the EHV-1 positive horses prior to its hospitalization has also been quarantined. In addition, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has provided information concerning horses from other states that may have been exposed to the virus to their respective State Animal Health Officials for follow-up.
New Bolton Center will continue to receive equine or camelid emergency admissions only during this time; these patients can be discharged when clinically indicated. On Monday, in consultation with the regional state veterinarian, New Bolton Center will decide if elective equine patients can be admitted.
All cows, goats, sheep, or pig patients can continue to be admitted and discharged without restriction. Field Service operations are unaffected and the Center will continue to receive appointments for non-equine animals. Reproductive services at the Hofmann Center are fully operational.
For additional information as it becomes available, please visit www.vet.upenn.edu/new-bolton-update.
For more information about EHM, please refer to https://aaep.org/guidelines/infectious-disease-control/equine-herpesvirus-resources.