How Early Temperature Monitoring Can Protect Horses During the U.S. EHV-1 Outbreak

A significant Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak is affecting horses across multiple states in the United States, prompting animal-health officials and veterinarians to urge strict biosecurity and heightened vigilance. What began with infections linked to equine events has now expanded across state lines, raising concern among horse owners, trainers, transporters, and event organisers.

EHV-1 is not a new virus, but the strain circulating in the current outbreak has shown an increased tendency to cause the neurological form known as Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). This is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. Horses may initially appear healthy before showing respiratory signs, fever, or subtle behavioural changes, but may then progress to hind-limb weakness, incoordination, difficulty standing, or complete neurologic collapse.

Because EHV-1 can spread before clinical signs appear, early detection remains the single most effective tool a horse owner has. The first reliable sign of infection in the vast majority of cases is an elevated body temperature. For this reason, veterinarians and regulatory officials are recommending twice-daily temperature checks at minimum, and continuous monitoring wherever possible.

Manual rectal temperature checks can work in small operations, but in busy barns, show environments, or larger herds, they can be challenging to maintain with the frequency necessary to detect early fever spikes. Horses may also have short periods of elevated temperature that fall between manual checks, meaning early warning signs can be missed altogether.

Continuous, remote temperature monitoring addresses this challenge directly. The VetTrue System from Epona Biotec has become an ideal solution for precisely this situation. The VetTrue TailTab is a small, disposable temperature sensor placed beneath the horse’s tail. It continuously records the horse’s temperature and sends the data to the VetTrue app, giving owners and veterinarians real-time insight into the earliest stages of illness.

With continuous monitoring, even subtle or short-lived fever spikes are detected, allowing immediate isolation, veterinary assessment, and implementation of biosecurity measures before widespread exposure occurs. This is particularly important in outbreak situations where a single infected but outwardly normal horse can transmit the virus to many others.

In light of the current EHV-1 situation, horse owners should:

• Monitor temperatures at least twice daily, or ideally through continuous monitoring systems such as VetTrue.
• Isolate any horse returning from an event or showing any signs of fever.
• Minimise movement of horses between properties or events.
• Disinfect shared equipment, trailers, grooming tools, and communal spaces.
• Contact a veterinarian immediately if fever or neurological signs appear.

The present outbreak is a reminder of how quickly equine infectious diseases can spread and how silent early infections can be. Temperature monitoring is no longer optional in times of increased risk; it is one of the most powerful tools for early detection and containment.

The VetTrue System from Epona Biotec offers a practical, accurate, and reliable way for owners to stay ahead of infectious disease threats. With effortless, round-the-clock temperature monitoring, it provides the level of vigilance needed to safeguard horses during an outbreak.

More information is available at www.eponabiotec.com