The International Collating Center, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following equine disease outbreaks for the fourth quarter* of 2014.
Outbreaks of African horse sickness were reported in four provinces in South Africa in which the disease is considered endemic.
The United States recorded continued vesicular stomatitis activity, all involving the New Jersey serotype of the virus. The disease was confirmed on an additional 68 premises including 60 in Colorado, seven in Texas, and one in Nebraska. In 2014, 17 counties were affected in Colorado, 13 in Texas, and one in Nebraska, with infection confirmed in 584 equids and 60 bovids on 433 premises.
France, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, and the United States recorded outbreaks of strangles. A total of 23 outbreaks were confirmed in 18 regions in France. Isolated cases were reported in three regions in Germany; Ireland confirmed 14 cases between the provinces of Leinster and Munster. Two outbreaks were recorded in Switzerland, one involving 50 of 100 at-risk horses. The disease is endemic in the United States with 41 cases confirmed on 22 premises in seven states.