Disease Alerts

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Number Confirmed: 1;
Clinical Signs: None; 
Notes: On October 7, 2021, 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 Parkland County, Alberta. The horse had been tested by an accredited veterinarian at the owner’s request to fulfill a requirement prior to being exported to the U.S. No clinical signs were noted at the time of sampling. The horse had recently been purchased at an auction in Alberta. 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.

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Number Confirmed: 2;
Number Suspected: 2;
Confirmation Date: 10/7/2021;
Notes: On October 7, 2021, positive equine infectious anemia (EIA) results were confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) national reference laboratory for two horses located on a premises in Fort Nelson, British Columbia. The horses had been tested by an accredited veterinarian at the owner’s request because they were exhibiting clinical signs compatible with EIA infection. In addition, two other horses had previously died on the premises with similar presentations but they had not been tested for EIA. A CFIA investigation is underway and as per program policy, movement controls have been placed on the infected horses and any on-premises contact animals. Initial reports indicate there are several 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.

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Number Confirmed: 1;
Gender: Mare;
Notes: On October 7, 2021, 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 Athabasca County, Alberta. The horse had been tested by the CFIA because its foal had previously received non-negative results on testing for U.S. export. Due to the age of the foal, its disease status cannot be confirmed at this time; future testing will be performed as per program policy.A CFIA investigation is underway and, movement controls have been placed on the infected horse and any on-premises contact animals. Initial reports indicate there are several 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.

Source: Clemson Livestock Poultry Health

Number Confirmed: 1;
Age: 4; Gender: Stallion; Breed: Pony; Horse Status: Unknown; Vaccination Status: Unknown
Notes: The horse is a 4 year old Pony stallion whose vaccination status is unknown. It is unknown if the horse survived. It is the only horse on the property. For more information go to: WNV factsheet

Source: Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Number Confirmed: 1;
Age: 17; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Arabian; Onset of Clinical Signs: 10/2/2021;
Clinical Signs: Ataxia, Circling, Fever, Reluctant to move; Horse Status: Euthanized; Vaccination Status: Status Unknown;
Notes: The owner reports vaccinating the horse in the spring of 2021, but it is unclear what the horse was vaccinated against. For more information go to: EEE factsheet

Source: Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Number Confirmed: 2;
Number Suspected: 1

Age: 12; Gender: Mare; Breed: Paint/Arabian cross; Onset of Clinical Signs: 9/30/2021;
Clinical Signs: High fever, ataxia, and weakness which progressed to the mare being recumbent Horse Status: Euthanized; Vaccination Status: Undervaccinated;
Notes: Horse was reportedly vaccinated by the owner, but the vaccination was given over five years ago.;

Age: 20; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Quarter Horse (QH); Onset of Clinical Signs: 9/30/2021;
Clinical Signs: Found down with an inability to get up and thrashing; Horse Status: Euthanized Vaccination Status: Vaccinated;
Notes: Horse was reportedly vaccinated by the owner, but the vaccination was given over five years ago.

Breed: Miniature Horse; Horse Status: Deceased;
Notes: The third horse at the premises, a miniature horse mare of unknown age and vaccination status, was found dead on September 29th. The miniature horse was not tested for EEE.

For more information go to: EEE factsheet

Source: Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Number Confirmed: 1;

Age: 12; Gender: Mare; Breed: Paint/Arabian cross; Onset of Clinical Signs: 9/30/2021;
Clinical Signs: Ataxia, reluctance to move, inability to swallow and open her mouth, which progressed to the inability to get up;  Horse Status: Euthanized; Vaccination Status: Undervaccinated;
Notes: Horse was reportedly vaccinated by the owner, but the vaccination was given over five years ago. For more information go to: EEE factsheet

Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Number Confirmed: 1;
Age: 12; Gender: Mare; Breed: Quarter Horse (QH); Onset of Clinical Signs: Not Reported;
Clinical Signs: Depression, Febrile, Head pressing, Inability to Stand, Muscle Twitching; Confirmation Date: 10/11/2021; Horse Status: Euthanized; Vaccination Status: Status Unknown;
Notes: This is the 17th confirmed case of EEE for 2021. For more information about Eastern Equine Encephalitis go to the EEE factsheet. 

Source: Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Number Confirmed: 1;
Age: 3; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Pony; Onset of Clinical Signs: 10/1/2021;
Clinical Signs: Inappetance, lethargy, Low Grade Fever, Weakness; Confirmation Date: 10/11/2021; Horse Status: Affected And Alive; Vaccination Status: Vaccinated;
Notes: For more information about West Nile Virus go to the WNV factsheet, 

Source: Attending Veterinarian

Number Confirmed: 2;
Number Exposed: 1;
Facility Type: Farm;
Original Case: Clinical Signs: bilateral nasal discharge, Cough, High Fever;

Second Case:Signs: Afebrile, Unilateral Nasal Discharge; 
Notes: An additional horse on the farm in Butler County (Alert 2283) has tested positive for Equine Influenza. The farm is currently under a voluntary quarantine. For more information about Equine Influenza go to the Equine Influenza factsheet.