02/25/2026
Two positive cases of EHV-1 were reported on February 24, 2026 at a farm in Louisa County, Virginia. We are not concerned, however we want to be proactive in our communication with the horse community.
Facts:
The affected farm has been quarantined and there is no evidence the disease spread beyond their property.
Contact tracing has been completed, and if additional facilities were affected, the owners would have been notified during that process.
The State Veterinarian is supervising the quarantined farm and actively communicating.
Farm employees have been trained on biosecurity.
EHV-1 is a common disease and veterinarians are familiar with preventing its spread
The single best source for updated case and outbreak information is the EDCC (Equine Disease Communication Center) Website: https://www.equinediseasecc.org/
What you can do:
Ensure that your horse has been vaccinated for flu/rhino in the last 6 months.
Note: the vaccine does not protect against EHM, the neurologic form of EHV but it reduces viral shedding, which decreases the spread of the disease to other horses.
Monitor your horse’s temperature.
Normal temperature: 99-101*F
If your horse develops a fever (temp greater than 101.5) or new respiratory signs (nasal discharge, cough), place them in a quarantine area away from other healthy horses until you receive further guidance from your veterinarian. Ensure they can have no nose to nose contact with other horses.
If your horse becomes ill, your veterinarian will advise the following:
Wash hands with soap and water, and utilize foot baths (dilute bleach, or chlorhexidine solution) after interacting with quarantined horses.
Do not share equipment between horses (brushes, tack, buckets, pitch forks, muck tub, etc).
Reduce traffic (human and animal) at your barn. Ensure visitors follow quarantine and biosecurity guidelines.
Change your clothes in between farms if applicable.
Handle the sick/quarantined horse after handling all of the healthy horses. Tasks such as feeding, haying, grooming, turnout, mucking stalls.
If you have any additional concerns, feel free to call our office at 434-951-9225.
Updates on current disease outbreaks are listed here as they occur and will include the date listed, disease name, location and current status. Specific premises will not be named but the general location by town, county and state will be listed. When locations, events or horses are at risk they wil...
