The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has reported that 25 horses have tested positive for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) since May 20, 2022. The original outbreak occurred in Tulare County, Calif., where 24 horses were confirmed with the disease.
That facility was subsequently placed under quarantine.
On May 26, the CDFA confirmed one additional EIA case in a 4-year-old racing Quarter Horse in Tulare and Merced County, Calif. The horse originated from the initial Tulare County premise where the other 24 horses had tested positive for EIA. The horse has been quarantined, and no other horses have been exposed.
Equine Infectious Anemia is a virus is a bloodborne disease that can be transmitted via bites from contaminated deer- and horseflies; from pregnant mares to their foals in utero or via milk; via breeding, from stallions to mares; through the use of infected blood and blood products; or through contaminated equipment like needles.
A horse with EIA can be asymptomatic, or it can have a fever or die suddenly. Horses that are chronically infected with EIA can be weak or anemic, lose weight, or have swelling in the legs, abdomen, or chest.
A Coggins test can confirm whether a horse is positive for EIA. There is no known treatment and infected horses pose a risk to all other horses. Horses that are positive for EIA can either be placed in lifetime quarantine or euthanized.
There is no vaccine for EIA, so prevention relies on quality fly control and sterile equipment for injections and treatments.
Read more at the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Updated alerts will be posted on the Equine Disease Communications Center.
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