An equine health alert posted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency states that Canada's control program for equine infectious anemia (EIA) has made significant progress in reducing the prevalence of the disease in Canada.
EIA - A contagious equine disease
Horse owners and owners of properties where horses co-mingle should take measures to protect their animals from Equine infectious anemia.
However, despite the best efforts of the horse industry and governments, EIA continues to be detected in Western Canada, particularly in the northern parts of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as in Yukon.
Horse owners and owners of properties where horses co-mingle should take measures to protect their animals - particularly if they are purchasing or receiving animals from the areas mentioned above.
The CFIA, in collaboration with provinces, territories and horse industry, conducts surveillance for EIA through the national EIA Control Program. Under the program, horse owners voluntarily have their animals tested for the disease.
EIA is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Regulations. This means that all suspected cases must be reported to the CFIA.
According to CFIA tables and maps 21 cases of EIA-positive equines have been identified in 2013. The positives may have been identified during a new investigation or an on-going investigation from the previous year.