Horse with Fatal Infectious Disease Euthanized at Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS, CA — Biosecurity measures are in place at Los Alamitos Race Course after a horse was found to have Equine Infectious Anemia, a potentially fatal infectious disease, state officials said Wednesday.

Bullet Train V, a 2-year-old colt with two career races, was euthanized on Tuesday, according to the California Horse Racing Board.

"EIA occurs in the general horse population and is a potentially fatal infectious disease. As such, the horse Bullet Train V was euthanized on September 24," CHRB spokesman Mike Marten told City News Service. "No other positives have been confirmed at this time. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is currently overseeing the situation."

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.

Los Alamitos officials did not reply to a request for more details.

Copyright 2024, City News Service, Inc.