The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) offers alerts about equine diseases that have been confirmed by reliable sources. The following information is from the EDCC.
EEE in Texas
The Texas Veterinary and Medical Diagnostics Laboratory has reported a confirmed case of Eastern equine encephalitis in Orange County, Texas. The vaccination history and outcome of the case is unknown. For more information go to https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/2016/08/15/additional-equine-west-nile-virus-positives-2016-confirmed-first-eastern-equine-encephalitis-confirmed/.
WNV in Nine Texas Counties
The Texas Veterinary and Medical Diagnostics Laboratory has reported confirmed cases of West Nile virus in horses in nine counties so far in 2016. The counties with positive cases are Limestone County, Erath County, Denton County, Austin County, Montgomery County, Lamar County, Polk County, McLennan County, and Wood County. The vaccination history and outcomes for these cases are unknown. For more information go to https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/2016/08/15/additional-equine-west-nile-virus-positives-2016-confirmed-first-eastern-equine-encephalitis-confirmed/.
WNV in Wisconsin
The second case this year of West Nile Virus (WNV) was confirmed in a 4-year-old mixed breed (Standardbred/Belgian) unvaccinated gelding from Clark County, Wisconsin. The horse showed acute neurologic signs (ataxia, recumbency) on August 10, 2016. Blood was taken for testing on August 11 and was confirmed positive for WNV on August 19. Despite symptomatic treatment, the horse died on August 17. For more information visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Homepage.aspx.
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.
Working in cooperation with state animal health officials and the United State Department of Agriculture, the EDCC seeks information about current disease outbreaks from news media, social media, official state reports and veterinary practitioners. Once information is confirmed, it is immediately posted on this website and messages sent to all states and horse organizations by email. Daily updates are posted until each outbreak is contained or deemed no longer a threat.
The EDCC is made possible by generous donations from organizations and horse owners. Please visit our sponsors that have generously supported this program for the benefit of the health and welfare of horses. To learn how you can help go to SUPPORT.
