6 Horses Euthanized Due To Viral Disease Outbreak At Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS, CA — Six horses were euthanized this week at Los Alamitos due to a viral outbreak of Equine Infectious Anemia spread from a Quarter Horse euthanized in September, according to the California Horse Racing Board.

The original case was linked to a 2-year-old colt named Bullet Train V, that was euthanized on Sept. 24 under the order of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Biosecurity measures were put in place and nine additional horses were places in a quarantined cohort group.

Tests revealed that six additional horses had contracted EIA. Of the six, four horses were euthanized on Wednesday and the remaining two were euthanized on Thursday.

According to the Equine Disease Communication Center, EIA is a potentially fatal blood-borne infectious viral disease that produces a persistent infection among equids nearly worldwide.

It is commonly transmitted from horse to horse by large biting insects such as horseflies and deerflies. There is no known treatment or cure for EIA. Horses with the disease can be quarantined for the rest of their lives but are usually euthanized.

The other three horses tested negative and will remain quarantined until they are retested in 60 days, the CHRB said.

City News Service contributed to this report.