The California Department of Food and Agriculture, Animal Health Branch (AHB) plays a significant role in protecting California’s equine population through equine disease surveillance, regulatory disease control and prevention programs.
RE: COVID 19 and Horses by James T. Williams, DVM
I have been asked if the coronavirus 19 (COVID 19) is contagious to horses and from horses to humans. The short answer is no. However it would be possible to get the coronavirus 19 from a horse if an infected human coughed some droplets onto a horses coat and an uninfected human then got those droplets on their hands to become infected.
EHV-1 Quarantine in Alameda County
March 16, 2020: A 14-year-old Pony mare in Alameda County displaying neurologic signs has been confirmed positive for Equine Herpesvirus-1. The mare has been isolated and quarantined at a veterinary hospital. Forty-four (44) exposed horses on the home premise have been quarantined with enhanced biosecurity measures including twice daily temperature monitoring. CDFA was onsite March 14 to evaluate the situation. All potentially exposed horses have been traced and contacted. Any horse displaying clinical signs or a temperature over 101.5F shall be reported to the veterinarian for evaluation and potential nasal swab and blood sampling. CDFA will continue to monitor the situation.
Equine Infectious Anemia - Madera County
Good morning California Practitioner,
A 24-year-old Paint mare in Madera County has been confirmed positive for
Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). The mare had been tested to travel out of
state, and was euthanized on January 24, 2020 after infection was confirmed.
There are no exposed horses on the horse's home premise and an
epidemiological investigation is ongoing to determine if any horses were
exposed. This is the first confirmed case of EIA in California since 2017.
Contact your veterinarian if you have questions.
Equine Herpesvirus-1 - Santa Barbara County
January 10, 2020: A 21-year-old Quarter Horse gelding in Santa Barbara
county displaying neurologic signs and fever has been confirmed positive for
Equine Herpesvirus-1. On January 9,2020, the gelding was euthanized due to
severity of signs. The index premises with two remaining horses has been
quarantined with requirements for enhanced biosecurity measures including
twice daily temperature monitoring. There has been no recent movement of
horses on or off the property. CDFA will continue to monitor the situation.
