Chile and the alert for an outbreak of equine infectious anemia; SAG de Magallanes calls for prevention and surveillance

The Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) of Magallanes urgently calls on equine owners to be alert to an outbreak of equine infectious anemia (EIA) detected at the Santiago Equestrian Club. This disease, highly contagious and with no cure, vaccine or treatment available, exclusively affects horses, mares, donkeys and mules. Symptoms of EIA include fever, anemia, and edema (swelling) in the extremities. Infected horses face severe symptoms that can lead to death, and those that survive become carriers, increasing the risk of contagion for other animals. Transmission of EIA occurs through the bite of insect vectors or through contact with sharp objects contaminated with blood from an infected animal. It is important to note that this disease does not affect people or animals of other species. Since 2019, Chile had been free of EIA cases, however, after the report of an outbreak in 16 horses at the Santiago Equestrian Club, the SAG activated the corresponding protocols. These ...