Wisconsin strangles case exposes 40 horses at Jefferson County barn

CURRENT BRIEF VERSION: A mare in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, has tested positive for strangles, according to an EDCC Health Watch report published by Equus Magazine. The horse, identified in the source material as a 15-year-old Quarter Horse mare, tested positive on March 23, 2026, after developing nasal discharge on March 6. The mare came from a local rescue, was reportedly exposed to strangles at her previous premises, and is currently quarantined. A separate EDCC Health Watch report also identified a March 5 strangles case in a 2-year-old Quarter Horse gelding in Marquette County, Michigan, where one additional horse is suspected positive and two others were exposed. (equusmagazine.com)

Why it matters: For equine veterinarians and other horse health professionals, the Wisconsin case is a reminder that strangles can follow horses between premises and spread even when exposure happened elsewhere. AAEP guidance notes that strangles is highly contagious, can spread through direct contact and contaminated equipment, and may also be transmitted by horses without obvious clinical signs. The source report also notes that recovered horses can remain contagious for at least 6 weeks, with some posing a longer-term outbreak risk. PCR testing can be performed on a nasal swab, wash, or abscess sample, and quarantine of new arrivals, hygiene, and surface disinfection remain core outbreak-control tools. Wisconsin requires reporting of certain animal diseases to state officials, while Michigan specifically lists strangles as a reportable equine disease. (aaep.org)

What to watch: Watch for whether any additional horses linked to the mare’s previous or current premises develop signs, whether quarantine and follow-up testing identify silent shedders, and whether any linked movement restrictions follow. (equusmagazine.com)