Neurological equine herpesvirus in the UK

The outbreak of equine herpesvirus infection that was confirmed on 8th January caused particular concern because cases were identified first at an equestrian centre and then at a large veterinary hospital, so there was a high risk of disease spread to other premises.

Equine herpesvirus (EHV) is a very common virus that does not affect other animal species or humans. Many horses will carry the virus without developing disease. Some strains of the virus are more likely to cause disease because they damage blood vessels, which results in disease of the affected tissues and the occurrence of respiratory disease, abortion, death of newborn foals or spinal cord damage. Different strains seem to affect different areas of the body. The strains of equine herpesvirus that affect the spinal cord and nervous system are thankfully the least common — as this form of the disease is severe, highly contagious and frequently fatal. In the UK there are typically only a couple of outbreaks of neurological EHV (also known as equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy or EHM) each year.