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February 28, 2023 - The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is reporting two additional cases of strangles, bringing the total number of cases for 2023 to 10. The new cases occurred at a Bay County property that recently had five other cases of the disease, the first of which was reported in November 2022. With the latest cases, the two horses are alive and are currently not showing signs of strangles.

For more information on strangles and other diseases, including cases in Michigan, please visit the Equine Disease Communication Center.

Previously reported cases:

February 23, 2023

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is reporting two new cases of strangles, bringing the total number of cases for 2023 to eight.

The first case occurred in an 11-year-old Quarter Horse mare from Shiawassee County. On February 11, the mare became ill with fever and nasal discharge and was later confirmed to have the disease. The mare was unvaccinated against strangles but is recovering.

The second case occurred in a five-year-old Thoroughbred gelding from Macomb County. On December 20, 2022, the gelding became ill with a fever and nasal discharge. The horse was later sampled on February 6, 2023, and confirmed to have strangles. While it is unknown if the gelding was vaccinated against the disease, the horse is recovering.

For more information on strangles and other diseases, including cases in Michigan, please visit the Equine Disease Communication Center.

February 22, 2023

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is reporting the sixth case of strangles for 2023. The case occurred in a yearling colt from Bay County. The colt was unvaccinated against strangles and was not showing signs of the disease at the time of testing. However, the colt was showing signs of strangles in December 2022, but the animal was not tested at that time. The property had four other confirmed cases of strangles in December 2022.

For more information on strangles and other diseases, including cases in Michigan, please visit the Equine Disease Communication Center.

February 17, 2023

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is reporting the fifth case of strangles for 2023. On January 13, 2023, a 22-year-old Arabian Cross mare from Van Buren County developed nasal discharge and later developed a facial abscess. The mare was subsequently tested and confirmed to have strangles. While the mare was unvaccinated against the disease, the horse is recovering. Also, four other animals at the property are ill with strangles-like signs.

For more information on strangles and other diseases, including cases in Michigan, please visit the Equine Disease Communication Center.

February 10, 2023

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is reporting the fourth case of strangles for 2023. On February 1, 2023, a nine-year-old Quarter Horse mare from St. Joseph County became lethargic and developed swollen lymph nodes. On February 3, the mare was examined and had samples collected for testing by a licensed veterinarian. The mare was later confirmed to be infected with strangles. The horse was unvaccinated against the disease and is recovering.

For more information on strangles and other diseases, including cases in Michigan, please visit the Equine Disease Communication Center.

​February 8, 2023

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is reporting the third case of strangles for 2023. On January 30, 2023, a 17-year-old Quarter Horse gelding from Shiawassee County developed a nasal discharge and was later tested and found to have strangles. The gelding was unvaccinated against the disease and is recovering. Two other horses at the property are also showing signs of strangles, but they have not been tested for the disease.

For more information on strangles and other diseases, including cases in Michigan, please visit the Equine Disease Communication Center.

January 30, 2023

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is reporting the second case of strangles for 2023. On November 25, 2022, a 22-year-old Arabian gelding from Ottawa County became ill with nasal discharge and a ruptured abscess. On January 20, 2023, the gelding was examined by a veterinarian and subsequently tested positive for the disease. The gelding was unvaccinated against strangles and is recovering. Two other horses at the property have recently exhibited signs of strangles, but they were not tested for the disease.

For more information on strangles and other diseases, including cases in Michigan, please visit the Equine Disease Communication Center.

January 13, 2023

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is reporting the first case of strangles for 2023. On January 3, a 20-year-old pony gelding from Livingston County was examined and tested for strangles after developing a nasal discharge and fever. The pony was positive for the disease and is recovering. On December 28, 2022, the pony was acquired by the current owner from another location in Michigan, and the animal’s prior vaccination history is unknown.

For more information on strangles and other diseases, including cases in Michigan, please visit the Equine Disease Communication Center.