The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has quarantined a property in Burlington County after one horse developed the highly infectious equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM). The horse, an 18-year-old Oldenburg gelding, developed acute clinical signs on May 19, 2026, and is currently undergoing hospitalization for care. EHM is a potentially deadly neurologic form of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) infection. The eighteen (18) remaining horses and ponies on the premises are under quarantine and being monitored for sickness. No recent horse movement has occurred by this herd, making the risk of disease spread from this case very low. There are no known connections between this EHM case and previous cases in Burlington.
“Horse owners are encouraged to work with their veterinarian and the State when animals show symptoms such as those of EHV-1,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn. “The Department took swift action to prevent the disease from spreading to other horses by enacting a quarantine, which stops movement of horses in and out of the properties and puts in place preventive measures to contain the virus.”
The EHV-1 organism spreads quickly from horse to horse and can cause respiratory problems, especially in young horses; spontaneous abortions in pregnant mares; and the neurologic form of the virus can result in death. The incubation period of EHV-1 is typically 2-10 days. Clinical signs include respiratory disease, fever, nasal discharge, depression, cough, lack of appetite, and/or enlarged lymph nodes. In horses infected with the neurologic strain of EHV-1, clinical signs typically include mild incoordination, hind-end weakness/paralysis, loss of bladder and tail function, and loss of sensation in the hind end. The virus spreads readily through direct contact with infected materials. The virus is endemic in the country, and although highly infectious, it does not persist in the environment for an extended period and is neutralized by hand soap, alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and sunlight. The virus does not affect humans and other domestic animals, except for llamas and alpacas.
The NJDA Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory is available to assist veterinarians with the EHV-1 testing. For contact information, please visit the lab website: www.jerseyvetlab.nj.gov. Concerned owners should consult their veterinarian before taking any action, as the clinical signs of infection with the neurological form of EHV-1 (EHM) are common to many other diseases. EHM is a reportable disease in New Jersey. If an owner has a horse exhibiting neurologic signs or suspects Equine Herpesvirus, they should call their veterinarian immediately.
