On January 18, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) was notified of two cases of equine herpes viral abortion caused by equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) at a farm in Haldimand County.

The two mares aborted during their ninth and tenth month of pregnancy. One week prior to the abortions, two horses on the same farm suddenly developed neurological signs consistent with the neurological form of EHV-1 infection, also known as equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM). These horses were euthanized and no further diagnostic testing was performed. The farm owner has voluntarily placed the premises under quarantine to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

In Ontario EHV-1 infection is immediately notifiable by laboratories to OMAFRA under the Animal Health Act. Attending veterinarians concerned about cases of equine herpesvirus-1 infection may contact an OMAFRA veterinarian through the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300.

Click this link to read the official OMAFRA release, or view the PDF which appears below.