Disease Alerts

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Exposed: 45; 
Number Euthanized: 1; 
Facility Type: Private Facility; 

Horse 1: 
Age: 23; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Warmblood (WB); Onset of Clinical Signs: 1/26/2026; Clinical Signs: Acute onset neurologic signs; Confirmation Date: 1/28/2026; Horse Status: Euthanized; Vaccination Status: Vaccinated;

Comments: Affected equine had no recent travel history;

Number Confirmed: 3; 

Horse 1: 
Breed: Quarter Horse (QH); Confirmation Date: 1/21/2026; 

Comments: After regulatory testing was performed to meet TAHC requirements, the horses were confirmed EIA positive. The premises has been quarantined and will not be released until the TAHC's requirements are met. TAHC staff are working closely with the owner to monitor potentially exposed horses and implement biosecurity measures. These are the first confirmed cases of EIA in Texas this year.;

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Suspected: Unknown; 
Number Exposed: Unknown; 
Comments: On January 28, 2026, 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 Westlock County, Alberta. The horses had been tested by an accredited veterinarian at the owner’s request to fulfill a U.S. export requirement. No clinical signs of the disease were reported 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.;

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;

Comments: Since the last situation report (1/9/2026), there has been one (1) new confirmed VSV positive equine premises identified in Arizona (Maricopa County). All confirmed cases in the 2025-26 outbreak have been vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) serotype. Updates are as follows: Arizona • Maricopa County – 1 new equine premises confirmed VSV-positive • Since the last situation report (1/9/2026), 1 VSV-affected premises was released from quarantine in Santa Cruz County. Classification of Cases Premises that have diagnostic laboratory confirmation of VSV are categorized as confirmed positive premises. Once a county is confirmed as VSV-positive, new equine premises presenting with clinical signs of VSV in that county are not required to be tested for confirmation of the disease, but the premises will be quarantined and classified as a presumptive positive premises. Premises may also be classified as presumptive positive if clinical animals on the premises fail to meet confirmed case definition, but there is diagnostic laboratory evidence of recent VSV infection. Quarantines Confirmed and presumptive positive premises are quarantined for at least 14 days from the onset of lesions in the last affected animal on the premises.;

For more information, go to https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/vesicular-stomatitis

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.;

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

Horse 1: 
Age: 4; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Warmblood (WB); Onset of Clinical Signs: 1/17/2026; Clinical Signs: Fever, cough, nasal discharge; Horse Status: Recovering; 

Comments: The 4 year old Warmblood gelding was imported from Austria to Belgium, and then to the US via JFK, arriving on 1/13. The gelding was in quarantine until 1/16 and was subsequently transported to a private barn in MD and then to a boarding facility in MD on 1/17. Fever, cough and nasal discharge was noted, and veterinary care was sought on 1/19. The attending veterinarian referred the horse for further treatment and evaluation to a referral center in VA. The horse was admitted to the isolation facility and is currently recovering.;

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Exposed: 60; 
Facility Type: Boarding Facility; 

Horse 1: 
Age: 13; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Warmblood (WB); Usage: Horse Show; Onset of Clinical Signs: 1/13/2026; Clinical Signs: Mild nasal discharge, low-grade fever, mild lethargy, cough; Confirmation Date: 1/15/2026; Horse Status: Affected And Alive; Vaccination Status: Vaccinated;