This past weekend, several reports citing that the Maryland Department of Agriculture placed three Maryland farms on hold due to exposure to equine herpesvirus-1 were circulating on social media. Horses from three farms, located in St. Mary’s County, Calvert County, and Montgomery County, attended a show in Virginia the weekend of February 24-25, where the exposure to EHV-1 occurred.

According to the Maryland State Veterinarian Dr. Michael Radebaugh, “as of this morning no horses at the Calvert and St. Mary’s County locations have shown any signs of EHV-1.” Dr. Radebaugh stated that, “as long as everything continues in the right direction, both farms will have their hold orders removed this weekend.”

The Montgomery County farm has one horse with a fever that tested positive for the wild strain of EHV-1, but according to Dr. Radebaugh is not currently showing any neurological symptoms. The hold order on the Montgomery County farm has been extended. As more information is provided by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, The Equiery will keep you informed.