A case of equine herpes has been confirmed in Chalfont St Giles.

Chiltern Equine Clinic announced the news on its Facebook page, warning horse owners the “very infectious” virus can cause respiratory disease, neurological disease and abortion in mares.

It wrote in the online post: “If you have any questions regarding EHV, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. If you are concerned about your horse, particularly if he or she has a high temperature, please give us a call straight away. Biosecurity measures are in place.

“Risk of infection can be minimised with good biosecurity measures, i.e. avoiding close contact or sharing of water or feed buckets with other horses, particularly at competitions, and isolating new horses at livery yards. Known cases should be isolated.”

There are five forms of equine herpes virus (EHV) and the most common strains of the virus are EHV-1 and EHV-4.

The clinic said the most common signs of the condition are those of an upper respiratory tract infection.

It added in the post: “Depending on the infecting strain and the individual horse’s immune response, the severity can vary markedly from little or no clinical signs to a high temperature, lethargy, purulent nasal discharge and cough.

“The incubation period ranges from approximately 2-10 days. EHV can set up a latent infection, i.e. the virus remains in the horse after cessation of clinical signs, and can become reactivated at times of stress.

“The horse might not exhibit clinical signs during these periods but can spread EHV in oral and respiratory secretions.”

According to Horse and Hound magazine, early signs of equine herpes include an increased temperature, coughing, a nasal discharge and a lack of interest in food.

The magazine warned a horse showing any of these signs should be isolated and a vet should be called, and said it was the second outbreak of the virus reported in recent months.

Chiltern vet Carmel Molloy told the magazine it could not be determined whether this outbreak is connected to the one on the border of north Hertfordshire and south Bedfordshire, adding: “It’s such a contagious disease it’s impossible to tell.”