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Equine Herpesvirus Erupts in Bucks County, PA

By
Real Estate Agent with Cindy Stys Equestrian and Country Properties, Ltd. PA License #AB068077

 

Equine Herpesvirus Erupts in Bucks County, Pennsylvania

 

                                                    Equine Herpesvirus Erupts on farm in Bucks County, PA

 

 

Christmas week, after being diagnosed with equine herpesvirus, three horses were euthanized at Mile View Farm in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  A fourth horse was euthanized before New Year's.  Better known as Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), is a disease that affects the nervous system.

 

The farm was quarantined at the onset and are being closely monitored.  Everyone at the farm is totally co-operating with the Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services.  There are still some horses on the farm that are "clinical" meaning that they have fevers or have tested positive for EHM.   They are all being observed.  As of the last update, no other horses are deteriorating.  It is just a matter of waiting it out.  The quarantine can only be lifted 28 days from the last suspected new infection.

 

The virus can spread very quickly.  It can be spread by contact, horse to horse.  People can spread it with touching an infected horse or handling of the equipment, tack, feed or filling water buckets.

 

The horses that were euthanized had been to a show in New Jersey on December 12, 2015.  All who had attended the show are carefully being monitored,  So far, no other cases have been reported outside the farm.   

 

Almost every horse from the age of two has been exposed to the virus, therefore, carries this virus.  The Herpesvirus can cause abortion in pregnant mares, while other strains can cause upper respiratory disease in weanlings and yearlings.  The strain at Mile View Farm is a neurological strain.

 

The virus can be activated during times of stress, such as strenuous exercise, long distance travel, or at weaning.

 

In October of  2015, a horse at the Parx Racetrack in Bensalem, Pennsylvania was diagnosed the EHM.  This horse survived, but it has some neurological impairments.  No other cases of this disease occurred at the racetrack.

 

 

Posted by

Brigita McKelvie is a REALTOR®  (Pennsylvania License #RS297130) with Cindy Stys Equestrian & Country Properties, specializing in rural and horse properties and farms in Eastern Pennsylvania.  She has an e-Pro® (Certified Internet Expert) certification and a GRI (Graduate, REALTOR® Institute) designation.  

Brigita McKelvie, REALTOR

Pennsylvania License #RS297130

Rural and Horse Properties and Farms

 

Cindy Stys Equestrian & Country Properties, Ltd.Cindy Stys Equestrian & Country Properties, Ltd.

 

The Premier Equine and Country Real Estate firm serving Eastern Pennsylvania from back yard operations to world class equestrian facilities.

Use a REALTOR with "horse sense" that doesn't horse around when it comes to horse properties.

 

 

e-ProGRI (Graduate, REALTOR Institute)BNI

 

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Comments (4)

Tamara Elliott-Deering
Central Metro Realty - Austin, TX

Wow, that's really scary, my niece is involved with horses and horse shows on the West Coast I'll have to make sure she knows about this. She is only 12 but she should know about the virus so she is especially careful when she grooms multiple horses at the stable where she rides.

Feb 07, 2016 10:29 PM
Brigita McKelvie, Associate Broker
Cindy Stys Equestrian and Country Properties, Ltd. - Lehigh Valley, PA
The Broker with horse sense and no horsing around

Tamara,

It can be scary, especially to the owners that cannot visit their horses due to the quarantine.  It is always best to take precautions.

Brigita

Feb 07, 2016 10:34 PM
Brigita McKelvie, Associate Broker
Cindy Stys Equestrian and Country Properties, Ltd. - Lehigh Valley, PA
The Broker with horse sense and no horsing around

Christina,

It is very sad.  Hopefully, no other horses will need to be euthanized.

Brigita

Feb 07, 2016 10:35 PM