New Brunswick Warns Horse Owners of Possible EHV-1 Exposure

New Brunswick has warned horse owners about possible exposure to Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 after a horse show in Sussex earlier this month.

The province’s chief veterinary officer issued the advisory to exhibitors, owners and trainers who attended the 4-H Round Up Show at the King’s County Fair Draft Horse Show. A horse at the event had been kept at the same boarding facility as another horse that later tested positive for EHV-1.

The infected horse did not attend the show, but officials said possible exposure remained. EHV-1 is highly contagious and can cause respiratory and neurological disease, as well as pregnancy loss in horses.

Veterinarian Nicole Wanamaker urged attendees to keep horses that attended the show separate from those that did not for 14 to 21 days. Owners should watch for fever, lethargy and reduced appetite, and contact a veterinarian immediately if a horse develops a temperature above 38.9 degrees Celsius or other signs of illness.

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The horse that tested positive for EHV-1 was not present at the show, but there remains a risk of possible exposure.