Florida officials confirm two cases of equine strangles

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has confirmed that two horses in Miami-Dade County have tested positive for strangles. The affected animals are currently under an official quarantine.

Strangles is an infection in horses caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi. The disease spreads through direct contact with other equids or via contaminated surfaces. Infected horses may exhibit symptoms such as fever, nasal discharge, coughing, muscle swelling, and swollen or abscessed lymph nodes. While most horses recover within three to four weeks, the bacteria can be harbored by horses not yet showing clinical signs, potentially leading to long-term outbreaks.