NJ horse farm under watch for signs of EHV infection Read the letter below from the state veterinarian to his colleagues, warning them of the possible exposure of a virus that is deadly to horses.

A Pennsylvania horse infected with EHV-1, a highly contagious disease that is deadly to horses, was in New Jersey 10 days before it became sick, prompting state officials to begin monitoring the farm where it visited, according to a memo from the state veterinarian.

A letter from Dr. Manoel Tamassia to veterinarians statewide says three horses from southeastern Pennsylvania were euthanized after developing the neurological form of EHV-1. One of those animals had been in a show in New Jersey on Dec. 12, according to information posted by Penn State Extension.

As a result, the state "is in contact with the exposed farm and is monitoring for any signs of the disease," reads Tamassia's memo.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture declined to identify where the monitored farm is and whether it has since been cleared.

More equine facilities operate in Monmouth County than anywhere else in the state. From the Horse Park of New Jersey in the west to Monmouth Park in the east, the county is a horse hub in New Jersey.

"New Jersey currently has no reported cases of EHV-1," said agriculture department spokeswoman Lynne Richmond, who added that the public would be notified if an EHV infection is detected.

EHV-1 and EHM, as the resulting neurological disease is known, has reared its ugly head in New Jersey before, including a pair of minor outbreaks in 2013.

EHV appears in horses worldwide and has a high morbidity rate, according to Penn State. It usually manifests in either a respiratory or neurological condition.

The virus is transmitted through horse-to-horse contact via the respiratory system, sometimes through human hands touching an infected horse and then a healthy horse or by contaminated equipment, feed or water buckets.

EHM attacks the lining of the blood vessels around the brain. Symptoms include nasal discharge, inability to stand or balance, a lack of coordination and weakness.

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