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. The following reports are in chronological order from most recent to oldest from previous reports.
11th 2016 EEE Case in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture confirmed on September 26 the 11th case of equine EEE for 2016. The 8-year-old, unvaccinated Standardbred mare from Waupaca County was ataxic before going down on September 17. She was non-responsive with nystagmus and died that night.
Wisconsin Reports Seventh 2016 WNV Case
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture has reported a new case of WNV. The unvaccinated 5-year-old Paint mare, located in Jefferson County, presented on September 10 with muscle fasciculations, rear end weakness and knuckling over of the left hind, and she had a fever early on. The mare was sampled on September 15, confirmed positive on September 23, and is doing well at this time. She was the seventh equine WNV Cases in Wisconsin for 2016.
Five Earlier EEE Cases in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture confirmed on September 23 that there were five new cases of EEE in the state.
Forest County: An 8-year-old, unvaccinated Saddlebred mare presented with fever, ataxia, blindness and was unresponsive; she was euthanized September 14.
Lincoln County: A 4-year-old, unvaccinated Quarter Horse gelding presented on September 14 with occasional paddling, seizures, cortical blindness, ataxia, bruxism, exaggerated eye responses, and was unresponsive. He was euthanized on September 15.
Lincoln County: An 18-year-old Quarter Horse mare with no vaccination this year (unsure vaccination status in previous years) presented on September 19 with ataxia, minimally responsive, bruxism, blindness, and was injuring herself. She was euthanized September 20.
Clark County: An 8-year-old, unvaccinated grade gelding was presented down and unresponsive on September 20; he died September 23 despite treatment.
Langlade County: A 12-year-old, unvaccinated grade stallion presented September 13 as recumbent, depressed, and listless. H ewas coaxed to stand, but he went back down and died September 14.
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.