The State Veterinarian is advising horse owners to be alert after another confirmed case of Potomac Horse Fever in Tennessee

Chattanooga, TN – According to the state officials, another case of Potomac Horse Fever was detected in Wayne County.

Officials said that this case is in addition to two cases earlier this month in DeKalb and Rutherford Counties.

Aquatic snail larvae and other intermediate hosts including flies are the source of the Neorickettsia risticii bacteria that causes PHF.

Horses may be exposed when drinking from creeks, rivers, or ponds and can then suffer from anorexia, diarrhea, colic, fever, and laminitis.

If your horse presents symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately. If left untreated, PHF can be fatal.

There is a vaccine for PHF. Although it may not fully prevent infection in all cases, it does provide protection and minimizes the severity of disease if a horse is infected. Horse owners should consult their veterinarian to establish a vaccination schedule.

The State Veterinarian’s office seeks to prevent the spread of disease through import and movement requirements, livestock traceability, disaster mitigation, and the services of the C.E. Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory.