A potentially fatal disease for horses has 7 confirmed cases throughout Manitoba.
Equine Infectious Anemia or swamp fever is a viral disease of horses, mules and donkeys.
John Savard, Executive Director for the Manitoba Horse Council, talks about how bad this disease really is.
"This is a terrible disease and heartbreaking for anyone who owns 1 horse, and the horse becomes infected, the choices are pretty stark either the horse has to be put down or has to live in isolation for the rest of its days and horses are social animals so that's like solitary confinement which isn't an option at all, it is pretty cruel. The consequences for a business can be disastrous a breeding barn or schooling barn, if one horse is infected it is a federally reportable disease so they'd be under quarantine for 45 days."
In Manitoba there are 3 cases in Armstrong, 3 in St. Clements and 1 in Hanover.
Savard also noted that horses should be getting a Coggins test even if there is no outside contact, as spread of EIA could occur amongst an isolated herd.
