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Equine herpes virus *H&H Plus*

Carol Phillips Carol Phillips

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    This article has been edited and approved by Karen Coumbe MRCVS, H&H’s veterinary advisor since 1991.

    • The equine herpes virus is always present in the British horse population, but the recent serious outbreak in Europe, leading to the deaths of some horses, has raised concerns among horse owners throughout Europe and beyond

    Equine herpes virus: Types | Is it serious? | Signs | How is it spread? | Diagnosis | Treatment | During an outbreak | Vaccination | Prevention

    The equine herpes virus (EHV) is always present in the British horse population. It is thought most horses have been exposed to the disease when young, usually by the age of two and then become latent carriers of the virus. A horse can therefore be infected for life, and can intermittently discharge the virus from the nose and infect susceptible horses. The virus lays dormant in these horses before becoming active again at times of stress. It is important to understand that horses do not always show clinical signs while they are shedding the virus.

    EHV has nine strains, with five (EHV-1 to EHV-5) affecting horses.

    The two most common strains are EHV-1, which can cause respiratory problems, abortion in pregnant mares and, in rare cases (including an outbreak in southern Britain in January 2020 and a major outbreak linked to a showground in Valencia, Spain that began in February 2021 and has spread around Europe and has also been found in Doha), neurological problems leading to paralysis and in some cases death; and EHV-4, which most commonly causes mild respiratory problems and very occasionally a single case of abortion in a pregnant mare.


    Latest update: 4 March, 2021

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    Karen Coumbe
    Karen Coumbe
    MA VetMB CertEP CertVA MRCVS
    Our equine veterinary expert has more than 30 years experience in practice. She is an FEI vet and has attended the past three Olympic and two World Equestrian Games in her role. She has a particular interest in anaesthesia, pre-purchase examinations, ophthalmology and dermatology amongst other clinical concerns. She has been Horse & Hound’s official veterinary advisor since 1991. Karen is part of the Bell Equine team.
    Karen Coumbe