Disease Alerts

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Exposed: 12; 
Number Euthanized: 1; 
Facility Type: Training Facility; 
Comments: Testing of exposed horses on premises is pending; 
Previous Alerts: 4865

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; 
Facility Type: Equine Clinic; 

Horse 1: 
Age: 27; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Draft-cross; Usage: Pleasure Riding; Onset of Clinical Signs: 1/29/2026; Clinical Signs: After several days of low-grade colic managed on the farm in Montgomery County, MD, the gelding was referred to an equine hospital in Loudoun County, VA where he underwent colic surgery for a colon displacement and impaction. Routine fecal culture submitted following surgery tested positive for salmonella.; Horse Status: Recovering; 

 

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

Horse 1: 
Age: Yearling; Gender: Filly; Breed: Thoroughbred (TB); Onset of Clinical Signs: 1/18/2026; Clinical Signs: The filly had clinical signs of colic and was shipped to a referral hospital for evaluation. At presentation, low-grade fever and mucopurulent nasal discharge was found. The horse was admitted to the isolation facility for treatment and monitoring. Nasal swab PCR was positive for EHV-4. The filly had shipped to VA from KY on 1/16/26.; Confirmation Date: 1/18/2026; Horse Status: Recovering;

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Suspected: 3; 
Number Exposed: 38; 
Number Euthanized: 1; 
Facility Type: Private Facility; 
Comments: Updating to add actual # of horses on quarantined premises (41); 
Previous Alerts: 4852

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Suspected: Unknown; 
Number Exposed: 15; 
Facility Type: Private Facility; 
Comments: In house PCR using the Fluxergy system. Patient has improved over 24 hours with supportive care. Horse is no longer at hospital and no horses were directly exposed during its stay at the hospita.;

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Comments: A quarantine has been issued for the facility and exposed horses.;

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Facility Type: Private Facility; 
Comments: Reported as EHV-4 on USAHA daily news. Might have clicked wrong button during submission or reported out to USAHA incorrectly; 
Previous Alerts: 4857

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;;