Six farms in New Jersey have been quarantined over a possible Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) outbreak.
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture's Division of Animal Health said quarantines have been imposed on five Monmouth County farms and one in Gloucester County.
Two horses at Sweet Dreams Farm, in Farmingdale, were euthanized with clinical signs consistent with the neurological form of EHV-1, the department said. Another died with similar signs.
Two of those horses had presumptive positive tests for the disease and further testing to confirm that result is under way.
The neuropathogenic form of EHV is often fatal to horses and is spread quickly from horse to horse.
"Quarantines are necessary to ensure that this serious disease does not spread," said New Jersey agriculture secretary Douglas Fisher.
"Our investigation is continuing as we work to protect the health and safety of horses in New Jersey and other states."
The department said the five other farms were quarantined due to what it called high risk contact with Sweet Dreams Farm, or having received a horse from Sweet Dreams.
"To date, no horses at those premises have shown signs of the virus," Fisher said.
Equine Herpes Virus can cause respiratory problems, especially in young horses, spontaneous abortions in pregnant mares, and the neurologic form of the virus can reach high morbidity and mortality rates.
The incubation period for EHV-1 infections is typically 2 to 10 days, but in apparent infections may be spread for 21 days.
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