Equine herpesvirus outbreak at Woodbine subsiding

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario reported in a Saturday release that containment measures appear to have been successful at reining in an outbreak of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) at Woodbine.

The AGCO received new test results that suggested the measures employed have continued to contain the neuropathogenic form of EHV-1 to a single barn (Barn 12) at Woodbine.

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Consequently, the AGCO has lifted all the restrictions on training for Barns 33 and 35, as well as the non-isolated horses in Barn 11. Two horses in Barn 11 remain in isolation. Previous restrictions initiated on the training of horses residing in other barns remain in place.

All horses in Barn 10 were retested and results all came back negative. In addition, all horses in Barn 12 were retested and two additional horses tested positive, bringing the total to 27. All the remaining horses in Barn 12 tested negative. As per the containment protocol, the horses that tested positive have been removed to isolation and Barn 12 remains in lockdown.

Assuming no other horses display clinical signs, the plan is to retest all horses in Barn 12 on Monday. Horses from Barn 10 will be retested on Friday.

EHV-1 cannot be spread to humans and is unrelated to the current COVID-19 pandemic.