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.
Double Infection Horse in Florida: EEE and WNV
One EEE-confirmed positive horse with illness onset 6/22/2016 in Osceola County was reported from the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) for Osceola County. This is the same horse reported earlier this week with WNV infection, and it would appear that the horse had a co-infection with both viruses. This is the eighth equine to be reported with EEE infection with onset during 2016 statewide and the second for Osceola County.
New EEE Case in Polk County, Florida
On June 28, a new EEE case was confirmed in Polk County, Florida. The 6-year-old Arabian had no vaccination history for EEE and no recent travel history. Clinical signs began on June 19, and the horse was euthanized for humane reasons the same day. This is the third confirmed EEE case in Polk County and the seventh confirmed case in Florida for 2016.
New EEE Cases in Jefferson and Walton Counties, Florida
On June 24, two new EEE case were confirmed, one each in Jefferson and Walton County, Florida. The Jefferson County case, an 8 year old Draft horse, became clinical on June 16 and had previous vaccination history in September 2015. The gelding was euthanized for humane reasons. The Walton County case had no vaccination history and no reported travel history with in the past month. Clinical signs began on June 17 and the horse died of natural causes on June 19. This is the first confirmed EEE case in Jefferson and Walton County and the fifth and sixth confirmed cases in Florida for 2016.
West Nile Virus in Florida
On June 27, a new WNV case was confirmed in Osceola County, Florida. The horse had no vaccination history and had not been out of the county in the past month. Clinical signs began on June 22, and the horse was euthanized for humane reasons the same day. This is the first confirmed WNV case in Osceola County and the first confirmed case in Florida for 2016.
Colorado State Vet’s Hold Released
On June 28, 2016, the Colorado Department of Agriculture, State Veterinarian’s Office, released the hold order on the Arapahoe Park race track in Aurora, CO. The office was informed that the Equine-Infectious-Anemia-(EIA)-positive mare which prompted the hold order was euthanized Monday morning. A second exposed animal, a pony owned by the same person, was removed from the track to a newly quarantined premises.
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.
