Disease Alerts

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.



Strangles, Equine Herpesvirus- Respiratory
Thurston County, WA
Outbreak Identifier: 5440
Alert ID: 2829
December 06, 2022
Confirmed Case(s) - No Quarantine

Washington State Department of Agriculture

Number Confirmed: 1; 
Number Exposed: 8; 
Facility Type: Private Facility; 
Comments: A horse in Thurston County has tested positive for Strangles. The facility had a group of nine (9) weanlings break with signs of a mild respiratory infection. Six (6) of the horses were PCR positive for EHV-4 virus. One (1) horse was PCR positive for both EHV-4 and Strangles. All horses have recovered. For more information on strangles go to: https://www.equinediseasecc.org/strangles

Equine Influenza, Equine Herpesvirus- Respiratory
Kitsap County, WA
Outbreak Identifier: 5421
Alert ID: 2805
November 17, 2022
Confirmed Case(s) - Voluntary Quarantine

Office of State Veterinarian

Number Confirmed: 1
Number Exposed: Unknown
Facility Type: Private Facility
Comments: The horse is confined at the owner's residence under private veterinary care. The horse had been at a large facility where a previous case was diagnosed. State Animal Health Officials are working with the facility and private veterinarian.  The horse is also co-infected with EHV-4. For more information, go to: Equine Influenza factsheet and EHV factsheet.