A Coggins test screens horses’ blood for antibodies that are indicative of the presence of EIA. | Photo: Alexandra Beckstett/The Horse

On Sept. 28, the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) State Veterinarian’s Office received notice that another horse in that state has tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA).

This case (Case 2) follows reports from last month that an EIA-positive horse from Weld County had potentially exposed more than 200 other horses across the country to the virus (Case 1, the index case); Case 1 remains under investigation. While the newly confirmed case is also from Weld County, officials say it is unrelated to the index case. As of Sept. 20, there have only been two confirmed cases of EIA in Colorado horses.

“While the investigation is in its initial stages, it is clear the affected horse is unrelated to horses, locations, or movements to the previous case in 2018 (Case 1),” said State Veterinarian Keith Roehr, DVM. “The affected horse and other horses on the second Weld County property (from Case 2) are subject to a quarantine, which restricts movement of any horses on or off the property. The remaining horses on the facility will be observed, tested, and then retested in 60 days