Aiken County horse quarantined for monitoring of disease
AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Health officials say a horse is quarantined in Aiken County after it tested positive for a neurological disease associated with equine herpesvirus.
After showing signs of lethargy, the horse was quarantined on Feb. 13. Testing confirmed the disease on Feb. 22.
“The infected animal is no longer showing clinical signs with resolution of fever and was likely beyond the infectious stage of the disease by the time we were alerted. Also, the owner of the infected animal is being cooperative, following biosecurity recommendations, and the facility is well-suited for quarantine. This is really a best-case scenario to keep this disease isolated,” said Michael Neault, S.C. State Veterinarian and director of Clemson Livestock Poultry Health.
Animal disease investigators say the horse and its pasture mates have not come into contact with other animals.
Symptoms include:
- Fever preceding neurologic signs
- Decreased coordination
- Urine dribbling
- Loss of tail tone
- Hind limb weakness
- Leaning against a wall or fence to maintain balance
- Lethargy
- Inability to rise
The disease can be deadly and is mostly spread by direct horse-to-horse contact.
Officials say the disease can also be spread through feed and water buckets and people’s clothing.
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