Outbreaks | Equine Disease Communication Center

Updates on current disease outbreaks are listed here as they occur and will include the date listed, disease name, location and current status. Specific premises will not be named but the general location by town, county and state will be listed. When locations, events or horses are at risk they will be listed. Updates will be posted as they are received.

Disease

Outbreak States

Start Date

End Date

Botulism

Vermilion County, LA

Outbreak Identifier: 5445

Alert ID: 2862

January 08, 2023

Outbreak Update

Source: Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry

Comments: The Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (LDAF), in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory (CAHFS), has confirmed the presence of Clostridium botulinum type C in alfalfa hay cubes linked to the death of at least 20 horses in Louisiana. This incident, which has evolved into a multi-state epizootic of Equine Botulism linked to the same alfalfa hay cubes, has also been connected to at least 28 similar horse deaths in New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado, with many other horses becoming clinically ill. Equine Botulism is a condition caused from a bacterial toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. In this incident, the condition was likely caused from direct ingestion of the toxin produced by the vegetative bacteria through contamination of the alfalfa hay cubes. For more information go to: https://www.ldaf.state.la.us/news/fda-confirms-clostridium-botulinum-type-c-was-found-in-alfalfa-hay-cubes-tied-to-the-death-of-multiple-horses-in-louisiana/ - and https://www.equinediseasecc.org/botulism. Previous Alerts: 2841, 2839, 2834

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