09/12/2021
I just received this from the Alberta Government regarding the Equine Anemia
Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) cases in Alberta in 2021. As of December 6th, 2021, 87 cases of EIA have been detected on 15 premises, located in 10 different counties or municipalities (Athabasca, Big Lakes, Bonnyville, Foothills, Grande Prairie, Lac Ste. Anne, Opportunity, Parkland, Smoky Lake, and Sturgeon).
The Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian is electing to notify all owners of horses registered in Alberta’s PID system by email to increase horse owner awareness.
For more current information, new cases are generally available on the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Systems (CAHSS) equine disease dashboard within 2 to 3 weeks of detection by CFIA. A link to the dashboard can be found at the CAHSS equine network page at https://cahss.ca/cahss-networks/equine
Signs of EIA and what to do Infected animals may show few clinical signs of disease, particularly in the early stages of infection. However, infected animals remain carriers of the virus for life, putting other animals at risk.
Infected animals may show some of the following signs: loss of coordination* anorexia depression general weakness intermittent fever up to 41°C jaundice bleeding under the tongue and eye swelling of the extremities weight loss
*Note: loss of coordination may be the only clinical sign observed. EIA is a federally reportable disease, which means that producers or veterinarians must notify the CFIA of all suspected or confirmed cases. If you suspect your horse may be infected, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Many other diseases can cause the same signs in horses, which is why it’s so important to call your veterinarian to examine and possibly test your horse for EIA. There is no human health risk with EIA. Preventing EIA and more information While no vaccine is available for EIA, you can ask your veterinarian about other ways to prevent EIA in your horses.
You can also visit the CFIA website at bit.ly/1gNSwGN to learn more about prevention and other general information about EIA. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Alberta’s Chief Provincial Veterinarian at 780-427-3448.
