After reporting 24 strangles cases in 2016, Florida agriculture officials have reported the second and third case of 2017 last week, according to Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) alerts.

IMage/MAKY_OREL
IMage/MAKY_OREL

On January 13, one premise in Union County, Florida was placed under quarantine for strangles after PCR results returned positive for 3 of the thirteen horses on the property. All three horses had recently performed at a roping event in Trenton, Florida over the New Year’s weekend.

All horse owners that attended this event are encouraged to monitor their horses closely for signs of strangles, isolate febrile horses and report clinical signs to the Florida Department of Agriculture.

Clinical signs for the three positive horses began January 5 and the case was reported to the state on January 12. No equids have left the facility since clinical signs began.

This is the first case for Union County in 2017.

In addition, the next day one premise in Alachua County, Florida was placed under quarantine for clinical signs consistent with strangles. The clinical horse was purchased from another farm also currently under strangles quarantine.

The purchase and movement occurred 3 weeks prior clinical signs appearing on either farm. the case was reported to the state on January 13. No equids have left the facility since clinical signs began.

This is the first case for Alachua County and Florida’s third case in 2017.

Related: Florida reports first strangles case of 2017