Officials with the Maryland Department of Agriculture have announced that a horse from Pennsylvania that was in a Maryland on March 15 has tested positive for the equine herpes virus.

The department of agriculture has stated that the horse had been at a horse show in the state, however, none of the horses that were in the Maryland show and none of the horses that live with the sick horse in Pennsylvania are currently exhibiting any signs of illness. Also, one horse that was reported to the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) with a fever on March 29 tested negative for the virus.

The horse that is sick did not exhibit any symptoms until March 22 and did not exhibit any signs of illness while in Maryland. Officials with the Maryland show have contacted all trainers of horses in the division that the sick horse was shown in to alert them of the risk and recommend they monitor their horses through April 5, which is the end of the 21-day incubation period for equine herpes.

Officials with MDA’s Animal Health Program have announced that they are monitoring the situation closely. Owners should contact their private veterinarians to arrange for testing if a horse exhibits significant temperature elevations or neurologic signs. Veterinarians are required to report equine neurologic syndrome to MDA.

As of right now, there is no indication that any other horses that had contact with the sick Pennsylvania horse are ill. The Pennsylvania horse is reportedly improving.

(With files from Maryland Department of Agriculture)