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  • Monitored
  • Immediately Notifiable
  • Equine
  • Equine
  • Terrestrial
  • Equine herpes virus
  • Virus
  • Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)
  • Ontario
  • Unknown
  • 2 to 5 premises/locations
  • Nervous systems signs
  • Endemic
Start Date
Feb/16/2021
End Date
Feb/17/2021

Two cases of Equine herpes myeloencephalopathy EHM caused by equine herpesvirus-1 EHV-1 in the RMs of Peel and Niagara, Ontario.

Office of the Chief Veterinarian of Ontario
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On February 16 and 17, 2021 the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) was notified of two confirmed cases of equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM) caused by equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection at equine facilities in the Regional Municipalities of Peel and Niagara. In the Peel region, an 18-year-old gelding was euthanized at a referral equine hospital after showing incoordination in the hind end which progressed to him being down and unable to rise. In the Niagara region, a 7-year-old mare was first examined for difficulty urinating which then progressed to her being down and unable to rise. Both facilities are under veterinary supervision and the farm managers have implemented biosecurity procedures and movement restrictions. There are now three equine facilities in the province with a confirmed EHV-1 infection causing neurologic disease.