Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin said on June 15 that 41 horses are quarantined at 10 different North Georgia locations due to exposure to equine infectious anemia (EIA).

“We have tested these 41 quarantined in the Adairsville, Calhoun and Ranger areas and more than 50 others as a precautionary measure. Equine infectious anemia is an incurable disease and we have taken every precaution to prevent it from spreading,” Irvin said.

The infected horse was found in routine testing required when a horse changes ownership, goes to events or travels out of state. The Athens Diagnostic Lab reported the positive test on the 21-year-old quarter horse to the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Equine Health Section June 11. The horse was euthanized June 13.

Equine infectious anemia is transmitted by blood, usually via horseflies or mosquitoes. Horses may have swelling in the lower legs, weakness, weight loss and anemia