The Canon City Facility of the BLM has released the USDA APHIS Veterinary Services Outbreak Investigation Report.
From the BLM website: Laboratory tests are being completed to identify the fatal illness that has killed 95 horses at The Cañon City Wild Horse and Burro Facility since the outbreak began on April 23. An independent veterinarian and a federal veterinarian are on-site to help diagnose and treat animals, and an equine influenza is suspected to be the cause of the outbreak. Horses showing signs of contagious illness are quarantined from the population.
The Equine Influenza strain identified is subtype H3N8, a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads through coughing by sick horses, and contact with contaminated surfaces. This airborne transmission results in a high rate of spread, and once infected, incubation time is just 1-3 days. Symptoms include high fever, inflamed lymph nodes, nasal discharge, and cough. While rates of mortality among healthy horses are typically low, at-risk horses see higher rates of death. Biosecurity measures of segregation, isolation, and quarantine protocols are critical to prevent spread.
Link to the USDA APHIS Veterinary Services Outbreak Investigation Report: CLICK HERE
Link to the Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office FAQs on Equine Influenza: CLICK HERE
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