Disease Alerts

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has confirmed outbreaks of Strangles in three counties in July, 2018. An unvaccinated, 10-year-old Quarter Horse mare in Montcalm County developed a fever and inappetence while attending a fair. She was isolated and placed under veterinary care. The horse developed nasal discharge and draining submandibular lymph nodes (glands) after the fair. A 13-year-old Quarter Horse gelding in Shiawassee County developed a sudden onset of nasal discharge and is currently isolated and recovering. The horse was not vaccinated and had prior contact with a horse confirmed to have strangles. Two adult Arabian geldings from the same farm in Wayne County presented with nasal discharge. One horse had a history of having intermittent nasal discharge for a month prior to the second horse. The horses are recovering. One of the horses was currently vaccinated against strangles. Another horse at the farm was previously confirmed to have strangles in February of 2018. No quarantines were issued associated with any of these cases. This brings the current number of confirmed strangles cases in Michigan for 2018 to 12.