Disease Alerts

Updates on current disease outbreaks are listed here as they occur and will include the date listed, disease name, location and current status. Specific premises will not be named but the general location by town, county and state will be listed. When locations, events or horses are at risk they will be listed. Updates will be posted as they are received.



Los Angeles County, CA
Outbreak Identifier: 6195
Alert ID: 3652
March 28, 2024
Confirmed Case(s) - Official Quarantine

California Department of Food and Agriculture

Number Confirmed: 2; 
Number Exposed: 10; 
Number Euthanized: 2; 

Horse 1: 
Age: 4; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Quarter Horse (QH); Usage: Racing; Horse Status: Euthanized; 

Horse 2: 
Age: 8; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Quarter Horse (QH); Usage: Racing; Confirmation Date: 3/20/2024; Horse Status: Euthanized; 

Comments: A 4–year–old Quarter Horse gelding and an 8–year–old Quarter Horse gelding in Los Angeles County were confirmed positive for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). A confirmed EIA positive equid must be euthanized or quarantined for life 200 yards away from any EIA negative equid as per USDA EIA program rules. Euthanasia was elected for these cases and witnessed on March 22nd. Ten (10) potentially exposed horses on the home premises have initially tested negative for EIA and will remain under quarantine until their sixty (60) day retest. Epidemiological tracing is ongoing, but transmission is suspected to be iatrogenic and exposure primarily limited to a subset of an unsanctioned racing population.;

Riverside County, CA
Outbreak Identifier: 6016
Alert ID: 3651
March 28, 2024
Quarantine Released

California Department of Food and Agriculture

Number Confirmed: 4; 
Number Exposed: 21; 
Number Euthanized: 4; 

Horse 1: 
Age: 2; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Quarter Horse (QH); Usage: Racing; Confirmation Date: 1/2/2024; Horse Status: Euthanized; 

Comments: One of the twenty-two (22) remaining exposed horses tested positive for EIA on the sixty (60) day retest. This two-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was euthanized. The remaining twenty-one (21) exposed horses and three (3) foals remained under quarantine for an additional sixty (60) days until they were retested again. The twenty-one (21) remaining exposed horses on this premises tested negative on their subsequent sixty (60) day retest. Quarantine on this premises has now been released.; 
Previous Alerts: 3459

Grand Traverse County, MI
Outbreak Identifier: 6194
Alert ID: 3650
March 28, 2024
Confirmed Case(s) - Voluntary Quarantine

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Number Confirmed: 2; 
Number Suspected: Unknown; 
Number Exposed: Unknown; 

Horse 1: 
Age: 18; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Welsh Pony; Onset of Clinical Signs: 2/22/2024; Clinical Signs: Fever; Confirmation Date: 3/18/2024; Horse Status: Recovering; Vaccination Status: Unvaccinated;

Horse 2: 
Age: 4; Breed: Donkey; Onset of Clinical Signs: 2/14/2024; Clinical Signs: nasal discharge; Confirmation Date: 3/18/2024; Horse Status: Recovering; Vaccination Status: Unvaccinated;

Butler County, OH
Outbreak Identifier: 6193
Alert ID: 3649
March 27, 2024
Confirmed Case(s) - Voluntary Quarantine

Attending Veterinarian

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Suspected: 1; 
Number Exposed: 4; 
Facility Type: Private Facility; 

Horse 1: 
Age: 2; Gender: Stallion; Breed: Quarter Horse (QH); Usage: Conformation Classes; Onset of Clinical Signs: 3/12/2024; Clinical Signs: High fevers >103 degrees F. Bilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge. Decreased appetite.; Confirmation Date: 3/15/2024; Horse Status: Quarantined; Vaccination Status: Status Unknown;

City of Kawartha Lakes, ON
Outbreak Identifier: 6192
Alert ID: 3648
March 27, 2024
Confirmed Case(s) - Voluntary Quarantine

OMAFRA

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Exposed: 5; 
Facility Type: Boarding Facility; 

Horse 1: 
Age: 7; Gender: Gelding; Onset of Clinical Signs: 3/21/2024; Clinical Signs: Unilateral submandibular lymph node abscess.; Confirmation Date: 3/25/2024; Horse Status: Recovering; 

Comments: Under veterinary supervision, the facility owner has implemented voluntary animal movement restrictions and infection control procedures.;

Ottawa County, MI
Outbreak Identifier: 6187
Alert ID: 3647
March 26, 2024
Confirmed Case(s) - Voluntary Quarantine

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Number Confirmed: 4; 
Number Suspected: Unknown; 
Number Exposed: Unknown; 

Horse 1: 
Age: 16; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Quarter Horse (QH); Confirmation Date: 3/21/2024; Vaccination Status: Unvaccinated;

Comments: Three cases were previously reported. This is the fourth identified case at the premises.; 
Previous Alerts: 3641

Vernon County, WI
Outbreak Identifier: 6191
Alert ID: 3646
March 22, 2024
Confirmed Case(s) - Official Quarantine

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Suspected: 2; 
Number Exposed: Unknown; 
Facility Type: Private Facility; 
Previous Alerts: 3645

Monroe County, WI
Outbreak Identifier: 6191
Alert ID: 3645
March 21, 2024
Confirmed Case(s) - Official Quarantine

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Suspected: 3; 
Number Exposed: 10; 
Number Euthanized: 2; 
Facility Type: Private Facility; 

Horse 1: 
Age: 5; Gender: Mare; Breed: Belgian; Onset of Clinical Signs: 3/7/2024; Clinical Signs: hind-limb ataxia, general weakness, dribbling urine; Confirmation Date: 3/20/2024; Horse Status: Affected And Alive; Vaccination Status: Unvaccinated;

Saint-Damase, QC
Outbreak Identifier: 6190
Alert ID: 3644
March 21, 2024
Confirmed Case(s) - Official Quarantine

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Suspected: Unknown; 
Number Exposed: Unknown; 
Comments: On March 19, 2024, positive equine infectious anemia (EIA) results were confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) national reference laboratory for a horse located on a premises in Sainte-Damase, Quebec. The owners requested an accredited veterinarian test the horse for EIA prior to participation in a competition. No clinical signs of disease were noted by the veterinarian at the time of sampling. A CFIA investigation is underway and as per program policy, movement controls have been placed on the infected horse and any on-premises contact animals. Initial reports indicate there are other equines on the affected premises. Movement controls will remain until all disease response activities have been completed, including follow-up testing and ordering the destruction of confirmed cases. Trace-out activities may require the CFIA to undertake actions at additional premises as outlined in the current policy. Improved biosecurity protocols have been strongly recommended to the owners to help control the ongoing spread of EIA and protect our national herd.;

Cariboo E, BC
Outbreak Identifier: 6189
Alert ID: 3643
March 21, 2024
Confirmed Case(s) - Official Quarantine

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Suspected: Unknown; 
Number Exposed: Unknown; 
Comments: On March 19, 2024, positive equine infectious anemia (EIA) results were confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) national reference laboratory for a horse located on a premises in Cariboo Subdivision E, British Columbia. The owner requested an accredited veterinarian test the horse for EIA because it was exhibiting clinical signs compatible with the disease. A CFIA investigation is underway and as per program policy, movement controls have been placed on the infected horse and any on-premises contact animals. Initial reports indicate there are other equines on the affected premises. Movement controls will remain until all disease response activities have been completed, including follow-up testing and ordering the destruction of confirmed cases. Trace-out activities may require the CFIA to undertake actions at additional premises as outlined in the current policy.;