On Wednesday, February 3, the New Mexico Livestock Board provided an update regarding an equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak that has infected scores of horses and has led to euthanizations.

An article on the situation by The Horse cites the NMLB’s February 3 update as saying that additional horses have tested positive for EHV-1, which brings that total amount of infected equine to 44.

The update also states that five of the infected equine have been euthanized after having shown “progressive neurologic signs.”

The article explains that the majority of the infected horses are at Sunland Park – a Thoroughbred track in New Mexico that has since been quarantined – while others are at a training centre which is located nearby.

“To date, 44 horses have been confirmed positive for EHV-1 on nasal swab and/or whole blood,” the NMLB statement says. “These horses are from 19 different barns within Sunland Park racetrack. Two positive horses are from an adjacent training facility (Frontera) close to the Sunland Park racetrack. Frontera has always been included in the original quarantine perimeter.

The NMLB statement goes on to say that “of these 44 horses, five have been euthanized for progressive neurologic signs.”

(With files from The Horse)