Animal Health

Avian Influenza Detections Again on the Rise Across Colorado and the Nation

The threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is still fully present across Colorado and the country. With multiple new detections in Colorado over the past week, the Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office is continuing to promote biosecurity practices as the best method to prevent the introduction of the disease fatal to birds and poultry. 

State Veterinarian Confirms Equine West Nile Virus Case in Weld County

A three year old gelding residing in Weld County has been diagnosed with West Nile Virus (WNV) and is now recovering. The horse developed neurological symptoms in late July, including weakness, stumbling and poor muscle control. The gelding’s vaccine status is unknown. This is Colorado’s first confirmed equine WNV case in 2022.

Pueblo County Horse Euthanized Due To Equine Infectious Anemia

The Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office has received confirmation that a horse in Pueblo County tested positive for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). Samples from the horse initially tested positive at the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory on June 2, 2022. A second sample was collected and the EIA-positive results were confirmed by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory on June 14, 2022. 

State Veterinarian Statement on Cañon City Wild Horse and Burro Facility disease outbreak

The Colorado State Veterinarian's Office was notified on April 23 about the disease outbreak that has resulted in the death of 85 horses at the Cañon City Wild Horse and Burro Facility. The Bureau of Land Management and the US Department of Agriculture are actively investigating the incident and monitoring the wellbeing of the animals at the facility. CDA is working with the two agencies to support their response to this incident. 

HPAI Detected in Midwest, Colorado Poultry Operations Should Prepare by Increasing Biosecurity

In the first confirmed case since 2020, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in a commercial turkey flock in Indiana on February 8, 2022. Since then, HPAI has been detected in commercial poultry in Kentucky and backyard birds in Virginia. HPAI has also been detected in wild birds across many eastern and southeastern states as part of USDA’s routine surveillance program. There are currently no cases of HPAI in Colorado. 

Adams county horse tests positive for rabies

The Colorado Departments of Agriculture and Public Health and Environment, in collaboration with Tri-County Health Department, have confirmed that a miniature horse in Adams county has tested positive for rabies. This is the second case of rabies in domestic livestock in Colorado this year; the first case was a mule in January in Eagle County. Before this year, the last equine rabies case in Colorado was documented in 2013.

Shortly after the miniature horse was euthanized, a skunk acting strangely was found and euthanized on the premises and also tested positive. 

Dr. Maggie Baldwin named Colorado State Veterinarian

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Maggie Baldwin has been named state veterinarian. In the role, Dr. Baldwin will manage CDA’s Animal Health division through planning, directing and executing all programs, policies and cooperative agreements with other governmental agencies.