The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is advising horse owners of a case of equine infectious anemia (EIA) in West Tennessee.
A horse stabled at a farm in Shelby County recently tested positive for EIA. The horse has been euthanized, and state officials are now testing additional horses that stabled with or live near the infected horse.
EIA is not contagious to humans. It is a blood-borne illness that can be fatal for horses. Symptoms may include fever, weakness, swelling, loss of appetite, or colic. However, an infected horse may not show any clinical signs. There is no treatment or vaccine. Once infected, a horse must be permanently quarantined or euthanized.
In January, four horses stabled at a farm in Rutherford County were euthanized after they tested positive for EIA. Six other horses at the same farm tested negative.
