Disease Alerts

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Exposed: 12; 
Facility Type: Private Facility; 

Horse 1: 
Age: 12; Gender: Mare; Breed: Miniature Horse; Clinical Signs: nasal discharge, mandibular lymphadenopathy/drainage; Confirmation Date: 2/6/2026; Horse Status: Affected And Alive; Vaccination Status: Unvaccinated;

Comments: Acquired from a kill pen ~ 4 weeks ago along with another mini;

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Exposed: Unknown; 
Facility Type: Private Facility; 

Horse 1: 
Age: 10; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Quarter Horse (QH); Clinical Signs: This gelding developed an acute fever followed by a unilateral swelling behind the jaw which was painful to the touch. Nasopharyngeal swab was positive for S. equi by PCR. He has been isolated.; Confirmation Date: 2/2/2026; 

Comments: The facility owner, working with their veterinarian, has instituted voluntary animal movement restrictions and biosecurity protocols. To see past and present Strangles cases in Ontario go to: https://www.oahn.ca/resources/ontario-equine-disease-alerts/ and enter the disease surveillance portal;

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Suspected: 4; 
Number Exposed: Unknown; 
Facility Type: Boarding Facility; 

Horse 1: 
Onset of Clinical Signs: 1/20/2026; Clinical Signs: The index case had fever and nasal discharge and subsequently tested positive for Strep equi on nasopharyngeal wash PCR. Four other horses have shown clinical signs of strangles including fever, nasal discharge, and guttural pouch empyema, but have been negative on PCR of guttural pouch fluid.; Horse Status: Quarantined; Vaccination Status: Vaccinated;

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

Horse 1: 
Age: 15; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Draft; Onset of Clinical Signs: 1/27/2026; Clinical Signs: This gelding developed clinical signs of a white discharge from both nostrils and a high fever. A new horse had been purchased two weeks prior to this horse developing signs. The new horse seemed "off" and was isolated just prior to this gelding becoming ill.; 

Comments: The facility owner, working with their veterinarian, has instituted voluntary animal movement restrictions and biosecurity protocols. To see past and present Strangles cases in Ontario go to: https://www.oahn.ca/resources/ontario-equine-disease-alerts/ and enter the disease surveillance portal;;

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

Horse 1: 
Age: Suckling Foal; Gender: Filly; Breed: Draft-cross; Onset of Clinical Signs: 1/19/2026; Clinical Signs: A mare and its foal were bought from a sale a week prior to signs developing in the foal. The mare had mild and transient nasal discharge. Foal developed a fever, nasal discharge and abscessed lymph node, a sample from which was positive for S. equi.; 

Comments: The farm owner, working with their veterinarian, has instituted voluntary animal movement restrictions and biosecurity protocols. To see past and present Strangles cases in Ontario go to: https://www.oahn.ca/resources/ontario-equine-disease-alerts/ and enter the disease surveillance portal;;

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Exposed: 2; 
Facility Type: Private Facility; 
Comments: This is the second strangles confirmed premises for Florida in 2026. No horses have been on or off premises in previous 21+ days.;

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Suspected: Unknown; 
Number Exposed: 40; 
Facility Type: Boarding Facility; 

Horse 1: 
Age: 21; Gender: Mare; Breed: Trakhener; Usage: Pleasure Riding; Clinical Signs: fever, decreased appetite, mandibular lymph node abscessation, pharyngeal swelling; Confirmation Date: 1/20/2026; Horse Status: Affected And Alive; Vaccination Status: Unvaccinated;

Number Confirmed: 2; 
Number Suspected: 2; 
Number Exposed: 3; 

Horse 1: 
Age: 12; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Draft-cross; Onset of Clinical Signs: 1/4/2026; Clinical Signs: Fever, submandibular lymph node drainage; Confirmation Date: 1/23/2026; Horse Status: Recovering; Vaccination Status: Unvaccinated;

Comments: This is the second reported, confirmed case of strangles at this premises. A prior case was reported in late November 2025 (alert 4731). The premises has been on voluntary quarantine since November 2025.; 
Previous Alerts: 4731

Number Confirmed: 5; 
Facility Type: Boarding Facility; 
Comments: Most of the cases are recovering.; There are three confirmed positives at one facility and two positive horses at another facility. The two facilities are in close proximity to each other. 

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Comments: This horse is alive and recovering. It has been two weeks since the abscesses have opened.;