Walking On Volume 6, Issue 1, January 2019 | Page 13

For the Health of It diagnosis. According to the USDA APHIS, the percentage of positives for the Coggins’ test has declined from “nearly 4 percent in 1972 to less than 0.01 percent in 2005.” The agency states that historically the disease was present particularly in “hot zones” such as Texas, Oklaho- ma, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennes- see, Alabama, Georgia, North and South Caroline, Virginia, Kentucky, among others. Recent figures show that the prevalence of EIA in the United States is roughly less than 8 in 100,000, according to the USDA APHIS. Many states have different re- quirements with regard to handling horses positive for EIA. Because there is no cure for the disease, and a horse positive for it is a threat to healthy horses, many states require euthanasia. Others allow for very strict quarantine measures, where horses are removed from the herd and kept in a 200-yard buffer zone away from all other horses. Some require confinement to a screened stall. Isolated horses are to never have contact with with the rest of the herd again. Though EIA is low in incidence in the United States, to reduce risk of horses being infected with EIA, the USDA APHIS recommends horseowners: • Never share needles among horses. Dispose of needles after each use. • Sterilize instruments thorough- ly after each use. • Keep stables and area clean and drained to avoid attracting insects that spread the disease. • Use insect control such as insecticides. • Quarantine unhealthy, infected animals. Do not breed horses that have tested positive to EIA. • Quarantine all horse species that are new to your facility until you have a Coggins’ test. • Have the Coggins’ test result done and available for horse shows, fairs, and other places where animals co-mingle. • Follow state laws concerning EIA. Ron Petracek - Idaho Influenced Horseman & Director Of Articles for EquineInternet. com Looking for more Equine Information? Visit our Huge Equine Network and Buy- Sell-Trade Click => http://www.Equinefieds. com/network.php Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/ expert/Ron_Petracek/72418 Article Source: http://EzineArticles. com/509657 The Walking On B ulletin B oard! Attire / Tack Awards Advertise your farm or business. 30 words - text only - $40 for one year • 30 words with photo or logo - $75 for one year. (phone, email & website do not count toward 30 word limit) Don’t miss out on this affordable advertising opportunity. Email [email protected] to place your ad today! 13