Update 4/29/2021: The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Division of Animal Industry, released the Strangles quarantine for the Suffolk Equestrian Academy on April 29, 2021. No further spread of the disease was detected after careful monitoring and movement controls were implemented. The original index case continues to recover uneventfully from the infection.
The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets confirmed one case of equine strangles in Suffolk County. Seventy horses were exposed at the boarding facility.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Division of Animal Industry, quarantined the Suffolk Equestrian Academy in Medford, New York, for exposure to Strep equi, aka strangles.
The index case (a Thoroughbred) and a cohort have been isolated and will continue to be monitored.
As for the remaining horses at the stable, they will have a minimum 14-day quarantine that includes twice daily temperature taking and recording and monitoring for signs of any illness. Fevers over 101.5 or signs of illness should be immediately reported to the stable’s veterinarian for further evaluation.
Stable management has been cooperative and is working with attending veterinarians and the Department to institute appropriate biosecurity precautions for all horses on the property.
Biosecurity at any facility should mean that horses returning home from travel to shows or new additions to a stable should be isolated upon arrival and monitored for signs of disease for a minimum of 3-4 weeks.
For more information about strangles or how to improve your biosecurity please visit this Disease Fact Sheet.
Information for this report was provided by the Equine Disease Communication Center.
