On August 24, 2011, the State of Arkansas announced that tests showed multiple positives for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) in the Clarksville, AR., area (Johnson County).
Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission (ALPC) along with a local veterinarian are investigating the positive herd. At present the infection seems to be isolated to the single herd. The owner of the herd does not show horses nor do they sell any horses to any extent.
The index herd has only one adjacent herd and that herd is in the process of being tested today. The source of the infection has not been found. The most recent addition to the index herd was traced back to its origin. Those horses had all negative EIA tests but were retested by Arkansas Livestock Poultry Commission personnel and all their horses were negative.
The number of positives horses in the index herd is substantial and alarming. Arkansas Livestock Poultry Commission is investigating all leads to make sure that this does not spread from the index herd.
Since the index herd has added horses over the years some of those horses may have been the source of infection.The herd has been quarantined from the time of the first positive and Arkansas Livestock Poultry Commission has a livestock inspector on the premises daily. There has not been any information that warrants canceling horse shows, etc., in Arkansas at the present time.