Disease Alerts

Number Confirmed: 7;
Notes: On January 22, 2021, positive equine infectious anemia (EIA) results were confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) national reference laboratory for seven horses located on a premises in Lac Ste. Anne County, Alberta. The CFIA had sampled several equines at the newly affected premises as part of a disease investigation that began in 2020. The property is home to an animal rescue organization and equines from many different sources have commingled there. Clinical signs compatible with EIA infection were noted by veterinarians when the animals were sampled. Improved biosecurity protocols have been strongly recommended to the owners of the organization to help control the ongoing spread of EIA and protect the national herd. 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. 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. For more information about EIA go to https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Outside%20Linked%20Documents/DiseaseFactsheet_EIA%20Cobranded.pdf;