Strangles, again, at two Michigan sites

LANSING — After months of voluntary quarantine, a second horse at a Genesee County facility has come down with strangles, according to the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC).

In Livingston County, another location is dealing with a second round of strangles cases. The farm had an initial round of cases in October. Their veterinarian released them from voluntary quarantine but horses got sick again in December.

Guidelines usually say it's okay for farms and horses to emerge from quarantine protocols after a month without strangles symptoms.

Genesee County

In an alert dated January 27, 2026, the EDCC, citing a report from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), said a 12-year-old draft-cross gelding in Genesee County had developed clinical symptoms on Jan. 4. The horse had a fever and submandibular lymph node drainage. Strangles was confirmed on Jan. 23. The unvaccinated gelding was listed as recovering.

The EDCC alert noted that this case is "the second reported, confirmed" case of strangles at the site. The premises reportedly have been under voluntary quarantine since late November 2025, when a 5-year-old draft-cross mare acquired from a dealer earlier in the month developed fever, nasal discharge, and lethargy. The mare was confirmed to have strangles on Nov. 21. The date of onset was unclear, and her vaccination status was unknown.

Additionally, the Jan. 27 alert said there were two horses at the premises suspected of having strangles and three that were exposed.

The Genesee County horses with confirmed strangles cases were listed as recovering (the gelding) or affected and alive (the mare).

Livingston County

A 15-year-old gelding at a Livingston County farm was confirmed to have strangles on Jan. 5, according to a Jan. 13 EDCC alert. The gelding came down with a fever and a cough on Jan. 5.

The farm had an outbreak in October 2025, when a 20-year-old unvaccinated mare came down with fever, nasal discharge, lymph node drainage. She was confirmed to have strangles on Oct. 6, and three other horses there were suspected of having strangles.

An EDCC alert says the primary veterinarian released the farm from quarantine, but then horses started getting sick again in December. A 24-year-old unvaccinated Tennessee Walking Horse gelding developed fever, nasal discharge, and a cough, with the case confirmed in early January.

A couple of days after the Tennessee Walking Horse got sick, another horse at the farm, a 15-year-old gelding, came down with a fever and a cough. His case was confirmed on Jan. 13.

All of the horses in the EDCC's Livingston County alerts were listed as recovering or affected and alive.

Washtenaw County

In Washtenaw County, an EDCC alert dated Jan. 20, 2026 said an 11-year-old Appaloosa gelding had come down with symptoms on Jan. 12. The horse had nasal discharge and swollen lymph nodes and was unvaccinated. The case was confirmed on Jan. 19.

The EDCC cited MDARD as the source of the information; however, the Washtenaw County case is not on the MDARD reportable disease dashboard as of Jan. 29. MDARD did not respond to a request for clarification before deadline; however, The Michigan Hoof Beat has been in touch with a Washtenaw County farm self-identifying as dealing with a strangles quarantine.

The horse was listed as affected and alive.

About strangles

Strangles is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi. It affects the upper respiratory system in horses, and symptoms can last for a couple of weeks. The incubation period between exposure and the onset of symptoms can range from just a couple of days to two weeks.

Strangles is an old disease and it's pretty much always around. But it's highly communicable, and it's one MDARD tracks. Quarantine, hygiene, and regular temperature checks are usually cited as key strategies to halt its spread.

Publisher’s note: this post has been edited to correct a typo in the graphic