First Case Of ‘Strangles’ Reported In Escambia County

December 27, 2016

A disease called “strangles” has been reported in a horse in Escambia County.

The Equine Disease Communication Center says says one premise in Escambia County was placed under quarantine for strangles. The exact location of the horse has not been released.

According to the owner of the horse, it was brought back to Escambia County from the Bastrop kill pen facility in Louisiana on December 20. No other animals have left the facility since the clinical signs began.

This is the first case of strangles in Escambia County and the 24th in Florida this year.

Strangles is a contagious upper respiratory tract infection of horses and other equines caused by the bacterium, Streptococcus equi. The disease is contagious among horses. In rare cases, humans have contracted infections from the bacteria that causes Strangles.

File photo.

Comments

2 Responses to “First Case Of ‘Strangles’ Reported In Escambia County”

  1. donna on January 1st, 2017 12:40 pm

    Strangles in horses is much like strep throat in humans. Both are effectively treated with antibiotics, such as penicillin and rarely ever fatal thank goodness

  2. mike on December 27th, 2016 1:50 pm

    Those poor horses! :(

    So, it can be zoonotic in rare cases. I imagine the contact would need to be quite close, caring for the animal, grooming, etc. I hope there is a cure or one is found.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News