March 29
EMC Quarantine Released; Center to Resume
Full Operations
-- Officials at Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in
Leesburg, Virginia announced today that the facility will reopen to outpatients
on March 30, following the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services' issuance of an official release of quarantine on March 28.
The hospital is scheduled to resume full operations, including inpatient and
emergency care, on April 2.
The quarantine was imposed by the Virginia State Veterinarian’s Office
on Feb. 20, in response to the suspected infection of two horses with equine
herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1). Eighteen patients were held at the hospital during
the restriction. Three of those hospitalized horses tested positive for EHV-1 – two
of which have since tested negative for the disease and remain in the center’s
Animal Biosafety Level 2 isolation unit and one of which was euthanized due
to unrelated medical conditions. No horses died at the center from EHV-1.
To read the full release, go to: www.equinemedicalcenter.com
Mar. 22, 2007
MJC to Lift Ban on Virginia Horses
Maryland Jockey Club officials announced March 22 that they planned to lift
the ban on horses shipping from Virginia into MJC facilities starting Friday,
March 23. The ban had been in place as a precaution during the recent herpes
investigations in both Maryland and Virginia.
Mar 19, 2007
Maryland Lifts Final Hold Orders
The Maryland Department of Agriculture today received the final outstanding
equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) negative test results taken last week, for a
total of 62 negative tests. As a result of these negative tests all properties
of interest have been fully released from hold orders, bringing the investigations
to a close in Maryland. The last two farms to be released were in Carroll
and Harford counties.
" These negative tests bring this EHV-1 situation to official closure in
Maryland as all hold orders have been lifted and there are no reported signs
of the virus anywhere in the state," said State Veterinarian Guy Hohenhaus. "I
would like to thank all the parties involved for their cooperation enabling the
state to bring the event to conclusion quickly and efficiently."
EMC QUARANTINE PARTIALLY LIFTED
3/13/07
According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS),
a quarantine that was imposed on Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine
Medical Center on Feb. 20 due to an equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) infection
has been partially lifted as of March 12. The two horses being held within
one of the biosecurity perimeters established within the Leesburg, Virginia
hospital were discharged from the hospital on Friday, March 9.
The State Veterinarian has authorized the release of these horses based on
stringent criteria established by the center, including the isolation of
groups of horses, the length of time for which the horses have shown no symptoms
and three consecutive negative tests for EHV-1. Testing of the horses in
the remaining two biosecurity perimeters should be completed by March 13.
When all horses within each specific group test negative for the virus, a
request will be sent to the state veterinarian to lift the quarantine on
that area of the hospital and the horses being held in that area will be
discharged from the hospital.
There are currently two horses remaining at the center that are exhibiting
neurologic signs, all of which have improved and are in stable condition
in the center's isolation unit. These two horses have tested positive for
EHV-1 and will remain in isolation until they pass the testing criteria.
Test results from two other horses that appeared to have neurologic signs
were negative for the virus. 3/8/07
Virginia State Vet Begins Lifting Herpes
Quarantines
Dr. Richard Wilkes, state veterinarian with the Virginia Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services (VDACS), has begun lifting quarantines due to the equine
herpes virus-1 (EHV-1). He released a farm in Middleburg on March 6 and one
farm each in Leesburg and Casanova March 7.
Although horses on these three farms had possibly come in contact with an EHV-1
infected horse at the Equine Medical Center (EMC) in Leesburg, no horses
on the farms ever showed any sign of illness compatible with EHV. After additional
testing over the weekend which was negative, Dr. Wilkes lifted the quarantines.
Quarantines remain on seven premises in four counties, including the EMC. VDACS
is awaiting test results on additional farms and the Marine Corps Base at
Quantico.
Dr. Wilkes has not cancelled public sales or auctions for this weekend, although
he advises a common sense approach and good bio-security practices. Currently
there are no travel restrictions on horses in Virginia outside of quarantined
premises.
Although state animal health officials are cautiously optimistic that the neurological
form of the EHV-1 virus is contained on the currently quarantined farms,
it is too soon to be certain at this time. The duration from infection to
clinical illness can take up to 10 days and once infected, horses may shed
the virus and be contagious for 3-4 weeks. A second wave of infections may
not be apparent until a few weeks after the first wave. If no new cases of
EHV-1 develop and if horse owners practice vigilant bio-security, horse movement
may return to normal later this month.
35/07
March 2 MDA Herpes Update
MDA lifted one of the two conditional hold orders today, leaving one
conditional hold order and one full hold order in place. No updates or
change in status are expected this weekend. See chart below for status.
Sixth Virginia Horse Tests Positive for
Herpes
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced
on March 2 that a horse from a second farm in Loudoun County tested positive
for Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1). This is the sixth horse from Virginia to
test positive. At this writing, officials are awaiting lab results on two additional
horses at the present time.
The latest positive test came from a horse that was at the Marion duPont Scott
Equine Medical Center (EMC) for treatment when EHV-1 was detected in a horse
at the center. The farm has been quarantined, along with nine other premises
in Virginia, in an effort to control the spread of the virus from horses
that possibly were exposed at the EMC. The horse showed signs of fever but
did not develop neurological signs as did the other positive horses. He is
stable and doing very well.
The positive horses remained at the EMC, were released to another state, or
are on farms in Virginia quarantined by State Veterinarian Richard Wilkes.
VDACS is guardedly optimistic that the virus has not spread to other animals
in Virginia, but since the incubation period can vary from 1-10 days and
horses may remain infectious for three to four weeks, only time will tell.
3/2/07
More Negative Herpes Tests in VA, Two State
Parks Closed to Horses
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced
on March 1 that a horse from a farm in Culpeper County, Virginia tested negative
for Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1). This is the third horse from Virginia
to test negative; five have tested positive.
The Culpeper farm, in Rixeyville, has been quarantined since last week, along
with nine other premises in Virginia as part of an ongoing effort to control
the spread of the virus from horses that possibly were exposed at the Marion
duPont Scott Equine Medical Center. Officials are awaiting lab results on
additional horses at the present time.
The VDACS Web site, www.vdacs.virginia.gov,
contains updates on the situation, a listing of quarantined farms by city and
county, as well as fact sheets and biosecurity information.
In other news, Virginia's Sky Meadows and Shenandoah River State Parks will
be closed to horses until March 12 due to the recently reported cases of EHV-1
in Northern Virginia. This timeframe may be extended if circumstances require
it. The other state parks will remain open to horses; however, the State Veterinarian
cautions riders to avoid the co-mingling of groups of horses, such as on trail
rides, to limit the spread of this serious, contagious disease.
Background on Positive Herpes Test in Harford
County
According to information from Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA)
and Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)
officials, the horse that was euthanized last month in Harford County,
Maryland (see Feb. 26 update) had originated in
Fauquier County, Virginia – and was destroyed due to neurologic
disease, although she did have other medical problems. Her test results,
which reportedly came back after her death, were positive for EHV-1.
This horse is not to be confused with the so-called “index” horse,
the animal from St. Mary’s County, Maryland that was the first to show
signs of – and test positive for – herpes at the Marion duPont
Scott Equine Medical Center (EMC) in Leesburg, Virginia.
2/28/07
Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center
Update
Maryland Lifts
Two More Hold Orders Due to Negative Herpes Test Results
As of Feb. 28, officials from the Maryland Department of Agriculture had received
the final outstanding equine herpesvirus-1 negative test results taken the
previous week, for a total of 30 negative tests. As a result of this negative
test, the MDA reports that 10 of the 13 properties of interest have now been
fully released from hold orders; two of the properties have "conditional
or partial" releases prohibiting individual horses of interest from
leaving the property; and one property remains under a hold due to a positive
test result. The newly released farms are in Carroll and Charles counties.
Additional information about equine herpesvirus-1 and biosecurity measures
as well as updates on the current situation in Maryland and Virginia are
posted at www.mda.state.md.us.
Virginia
Point-To-Points Resheduled & Other
Events Cancelled
According to the Virginia Point-to-Point Central Entry office, the Rappahannock
and Blue Ridge meets, postponed due to the herpes investigations, have
been rescheduled for March 31, when a combined meet will be held at Woodley
Farm near Berryville. Times and conditions will be posted soon at http://www.morvenpark.org.
HORSE AUCTIONS AND SALES CANCELLED IN VIRGINIA THROUGH MARCH
5
Effective immediately (Feb. 28), Dr. Richard Wilkes, State Veterinarian with
the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, has cancelled
all public horse sales and auctions in the Commonwealth through Monday, March
5, 2007. This is one of the continuing efforts to stop
the spread of Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1) currently present in Northern
Virginia.
The cancellation order is effective statewide. While EHV-1 is not harmful to
humans, people can spread it on their shoes or with their vehicles, and an
infected horse at an event could infect other horses, which would then carry
the disease back to their points of origin.
The ban will remain in effect until March 5 unless extended by the State Veterinarian.
In other news, an additional test result came back negative today on a horse
from Fauquier County. This brings the total test results to five positives
and two negatives in that state to date.
Maryland Jockey Club Bans Virginia Horses
The Maryland Jockey Club announced on Feb. 28 that, "due to the
recent herpes outbreak originating in Virginia, no horses from the
state of Virginia
will be allowed to ship into Laurel, Pimlico, or Bowie until further notice."
Another Virginia Horse Tests Positive for
EHV-1
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced
on the afternoon of Feb. 27 that a horse from a farm in Loudoun County had
tested positive for Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1). This is the fifth horse
from Virginia to test positive. Results on an additional horse, from Fauquier
County, were negative.
The latest positive test came from a horse that was at the Marion duPont Equine
Medical Center (EMC) for treatment when EHV-1 was detected in a horse at
the center. The farm has been quarantined since last week, along with nine
other premises in Virginia, in an effort to control the spread of the virus
from horses that possibly were exposed at the EMC. Officials are awaiting
lab results on four additional horses at the present time. All of the horses
that have tested positives showed signs of neurological disease.
" Thanks to rapid diagnosis and notification by the EMC, VDACS personnel
quarantined all the contact premises in Virginia last week," said Dr. Richard
Wilkes, State Veterinarian. "This new confirmation indicates that more horses
on this particular farm may have been exposed, but we are hopeful that our quarantine
has prevented exposure of other horses in the area. We will continue to monitor
this farm, as well as others, until the threat of EHV-1 has passed. Farms will
remain under quarantine until investigations and tests are completed and we believe
transmission of the virus is no longer a credible risk."
To view the complete release, go to www.vdacs.virginia.gov.
2/27/07
MDA Lifts Hold Orders on More Properties
w/Neg. EHV-1 Test Results
ANNAPOLIS, MD - Feb. 27, 2007- The Maryland Department of Agriculture
today received test results taken last week from 16 more Maryland horses
involved
in the equine herpesvirus-1 situation in Maryland and Virginia, for a total
of 28 negative tests. As a result of these negative tests, a total of eight
of the 13 properties of interest are being fully released from hold orders;
three of the properties have "conditional or partial" releases prohibiting
individual horses of interest from leaving the property; one property (in Carroll
County) remains under a hold order because test results are still outstanding;
and one property remains under a hold due to a positive test result. Maryland
uses "Hold Orders" to prohibit the movement of horses on to or off
of a given property.
Since returning from the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg,
Va. the horses at the three conditionally/partially released properties (one
each in Charles, Howard, and Carroll counties) have been isolated with strong
biosecurity measures. Those horses remain under a hold order, while the others
on those properties have been released.
Test results from one mare that was euthanized last week in Harford County
were positive for ehv-1. The mare had come from Virginia through Leesburg
for treatment and was located at a facility in Harford County to recover.
The facility has been under a hold order with no horse movement on or off
the farm since the investigation in Maryland began early last week. There
are no horses on the facility with any signs of ehv-1.
Virginia Point-to-Point Postponements,
Morven Park Restrictions
According to the Central Entry Office for Virginia Point-to-Points at Morven
Park in Leesburg, the Rappahannock and Blue Ridge Point-to-Points originally
scheduled for March 3 and March 10 have been postponed by the organizers
and will be rescheduled. The new dates will be announced later. The Casanova
Hunt Point-to-Point, which was scheduled for last Saturday, does not plan
on rescheduling at this time.
In addition, the Bull Run Hunter Pace has been postponed to 10:00 a.m on April
14, and the Casanova Hunter Pace has been postponed to April 21, time TBA.
You must enter for these races even if you had previously entered for the
February dates.
Central Entry is requesting that anyone involved with Virginia, Maryland or
the Delaware Valley point-to-point racing please update their mailing addresses
and email addresses with that organization. Please send an email to office@morvenpark.org with
your mailing address, email address, and daytime phone number.
The Morven Park Equestrian Center has imposed a 21-day voluntary quarantine
to ensure the health and safety of the entire equine community and future
events at the facility. The few horses that are in residence at the facility
have not shown any symptoms. MPEC plans to reopen on March 9, which is 21
days from the last date any horse came or left the Equestrian Center.
Please check http://www.morvenpark.org for
further updates or call (703) 777-2890.
2/26/07
Equine Herpesvirus-1 Test Results Returned
on Maryland Horses of Interest
ANNAPOLIS,
MD - Feb. 26, 2007 - The Maryland Department of Agriculture has received
test
results taken last week from 13 Maryland horses involved
in the equine herpesvirus-1 situation in Maryland and Virginia. Twelve
of the test results were negative, resulting in one hold order being
fully lifted from a facility in Montgomery County, Md. Hold orders on
two other farms, one each in Charles and Howard counties, have been partially
lifted, with the horses of interest at those two locations remaining
under a hold order. Since returning from the Marion duPont Scott Equine
Medical Center in Leesburg, Va. the both horses at the Charles and Howard
county farms have been isolated with strong biosecurity measures. Those
horses remain under a hold order, while the others on those properties
have been released. Maryland uses "Hold Orders" to prohibit
the movement of horses on to or off of a given property.
Test results from one mare that was euthanized last week in Harford County
were positive for ehv-1. The mare had come from Virginia through Leesburg
for treatment and was located at a facility in Harford County to recover.
The facility has been under a hold order with no horse movement on or off
the farm since the investigation in Maryland began early last week. There
are no horses on the facility with any signs of ehv-1.
After lifting the hold order on the one Montgomery county farm, Maryland officials
still have hold orders on a total of 12 facilities in Carroll, St. Mary's
Charles, Montgomery, Howard, and Harford counties. All remaining test results
are expected in the next couple of days.
For the complete press release from the MDA, click here: http://www.mda.state.md.us/
West Virginia Racetracks Ban Ship-Ins Horses
from Maryland
The Maryland Jockey Club confirmed on Feb. 26 that, until further notice,
West Virginia racetracks have banned ship-ins from Maryland due to the
recent herpes Hold Orders in this state. However, a MJC representative
said that as of this writing, there were no Hold Orders at Pimlico, Laurel
or Bowie.
2/23/07
Update from the Maryland Department of
Agriculture
6pm -
As of today there are five new facilities of interest, for a total of 13, under
hold orders based on new information from the Marion duPont Scott Equine
Medical Center noted in the 2/22 update. Samples were taken today from horses
on those properties. Test results from the first batch taken earlier this
week are still expected on Monday. The counties in Maryland with facilities
under hold orders are Baltimore, Carroll, Charles, Harford, Howard, Montgomery,
and St. Mary's. The risk level in Maryland for the broad horse community
remains low.
For the complete press release from the MDA, click here: http://www.mda.state.md.us/
Herpes Prompts Virginia Event Cancellations
The Virginia state veterinarian has reportedly ordered the cancellation
of all Loudoun and Fauquier County equine events (including the Casanova
Hunt Point-to-Point) for the weekend of Feb. 24/25. If you were planning
to take a horse to Northern Virginia, please confirm that the activity
has not been cancelled or postponed.
Virginia currently has 10 facilities under quarantine, affecting approximately
175 horses. One facility in Culpeper County, 2 in Fauquier County, 6
in Loudoun County, and one facility on the Quantico Marine Base. For
more information about the situation in Virginia, check the Virginia
Department of Agriculture's website at: http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/animals/ehv.shtml
Herpes Info. Meetings Hosted by Marion
duPont Scott Equine Medical Center
• Informational Meeting for Veterinarians - Saturday, Feb. 24,
1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Morven Park International Equestrian Center, 41793 Tutt Lane,
Leesburg, Virginia
• Informational
Meeting for Clients - Monday,
Feb. 26, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Best Western Leesburg-Dulles, 726 East Market
Street, Leesburg, Virginia
2/22/07
Maryland Herpes Investigations Underway
According to a Feb. 22 press release, the Maryland Department of Agriculture
is conducting neurologic equine herpes virus -1 (EHV-1) investigations in eight
Maryland locations (with seven horses currently located in state). The locations
are in Carroll, St. Mary's, Charles, Howard, Baltimore, Montgomery, with two
facilities in both Carroll and Charles counties. It is believed that more facilities
will be added.
The investigations are warranted because these horses had
possible indirect exposure to an EHV-1 test-positive horse
being treated initially for colic
at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Virginia and
were discharged before the horse in Leesburg showed signs of EHV-1. The "index" horse
that originally went to Leesburg was from St. Mary's County and remains at
Leesburg under treatment. At this writing, no horses currently in Maryland
have tested positive for EHV-1
In conjunction with the investigations, the MDA has placed seven-day "Investigational
Hold Orders" on all of the suspect locations to prevent any movement of
horses until each situation is evaluated and any necessary test results are
back. Samples have been taken from the horses.
At this writing, both the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center
in Leesburg and another undisclosed location in Loudoun County, Virginia
were under state quarantine.
MDA reminds Maryland horse owners that it is always prudent to practice on-farm
biosecurity to prevent illness of any kind.
Additional information about equine herpesvirus-1 and biosecurity measures
-- as well as updates on the current situation in Maryland and related cases
in Virginia -- are posted at www.mda.state.md.us. (click
on “Hot Topics/Equine Herpesvirus Update”)
For more information, visit:
Information
on Maryland's 2006 outbreak
To understand the difference between a Hold Order and a Quarantine, click
here
Full News release and all future updates from the Marion duPont Scott Equine
Medical Center: http://emc.vetmed.vt.edu/newatEMC.html
Full news release from the Virginia Department of Agriculture: http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/news/releases-b.shtml
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