USDA Temporarily Closes Miami Animal Import Center After Three Horses Dead

Sat, 01/19/2019 - 04:59
U.S.A.
Horse in an airplane container arriving from Europe in the U.S.A :: Photo © Dirk Caremans

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is temporarily closing the Miami Animal Import Center to new arrivals after horses quarantined at the facility became sick.

The Equine Disease Communication Center alert for this contains up to date information.

APHIS is investigating to determine the specific cause of illness in these horses. Salmonellosis is suspected and the facility is taking precautions to control disease spread. 

The temporary closure is effective on Saturday, January 19, 2019. Horses currently under quarantine at the facility are being closely monitored for any signs of illness. To date, six horses have fallen ill with symptoms, such as diarrhea, fever, and lameness, with three of the horses dying.

Initially Miami announced that stalls will be closed through 31 March, but a Miami APHIS official told Eurodressage the re-opening date is not yet determined. "When we have a date, we will update our stakeholders immediately," said Ed Curtlett.

Before reopening, the facility will undergo a complete cleaning and disinfection with disinfection targeted to any causative disease agent identified or suspected.

The Miami import center has approximately 95 individual horse stalls available for quarantine purposes. It is the main import center for horses flying into the U.S.A. to compete on the Wellington show circuit (dressage, show jumping, polo) of which its busiest period of activity is  right now (January - April).

Photo © Dirk Caremans

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