As reported by the Equine Disease Communication Center, infectious equine diseases continue to strike horses in a number of USA states.
Report on infectious horse diseases
The Equine Disease Communication Center recently reported new cases of Strangles, West Nile virus, Equine Herpes virus and Corona virus in horses.
On Friday, June 30, the PA Department of Agriculture released an EHM quarantine in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. One other closely related barn was also under quarantine, but that quarantine was released on June 20. No additional cases beyond the index case, which was euthanized, were identified during this quarantine.
Six cases of Equine Coronavirus have been confirmed at Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy in Sarpy County, Nebraska. Clinical signs began on June 11th; the horse was immediately quarantined and was confirmed positive for coronavirus on the 16th.
Since the initial diagnosis, three additional horses have tested positive and two horses are being treated as positive due to similar symptoms. There has been one fatality. The facility is currently under quarantine and there has been no movement of horses in or out since June 12th.
On July 3, one premise in Levy County, Florida was placed under quarantine for clinical signs and positive PCR confirmation of strangles. The index case became clinical in late June. Eleven of the 59 horses on the property were clinical at time of quarantine. This the second case for Levy County and case 24 for Florida in 2017.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) identified a 10-year old Saddlebred gelding, from Wythe County as the state’s first positive case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in 2017. The positive was confirmed at the National Veterinary Service Laboratories on Friday July 7, 2017.
This is the first case in Virginia since August 2015. Symptoms included loss of control of bodily movements and partial paralysis in the hind limbs, dazed appearance and lack of ability to stand. The horse, which was not vaccinated, was euthanized due to the severity of the disease.
California has confirmed the first case of equine West Nile Virus for 2017. A 14 month old Quarter Horse filly with unknown vaccination history in Kern County, CA has been confirmed positive for West Nile Virus. Due to the severity of clinical signs, the horse has been euthanized.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA )continually monitors and investigates equine neurologic cases for the presence of WNV in California. The CDFA urges horse owners to consult their veterinarian concerning a WNV vaccination program to ensure maximum protection of their horses. For more information visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/WNV_Info.html
On July 14, 2017, The Equine Disease Communication Center reported a new case of strangles on one premise in Osceola County, Florida, that was placed under quarantine for clinical signs of the disease. The index case became clinical around July 9. One of the six horses on the property was clinical at time of quarantine.
This the second equine strangles case for Osceola County and case 26 for Florida in 2017.
This information was sourced from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
About EDCC
The Equine Disease Communication Center works to protect horses and the horse industry from the threat of infectious diseases in North America. The communication system is designed to seek and report real time information about disease outbreaks similar to how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerts the human population about diseases in people.
The goal of the EDCC is to alert the horse industry about disease outbreak information to help mitigate and prevent the spread of disease. Ultimately frequent and accurate information about diseases outbreaks improves horse welfare and helps to prevent negative economic impact that can result from decreased horse use due to a fear of spreading infection.
As part of the National Equine Health Plan the EDCC will serve as part of the communication to help educate and promote research about endemic and foreign disease.