HELENA — Montana’s equine community has been reminded this month that a long-fought disease never completely disappears. An 18-year-old gelding in Musselshell County tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA) during routine screening, prompting quarantine and contact-tracing of dozens of horses. State and federal animal-health officials say the case is part of a pattern of sporadic, but important, detections across the state.
What is EIA?
Equine infectious anemia — also called “swamp fever” — is a viral illness that affects equids (horses, donkeys, mules, and zebras). The virus destroy...