Please note the following information is in addition to other Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) communications including:

  • notification to the relevant provincial or territorial veterinary service of any newly affected premises;
  • direct communications with the owners or persons involved in the case; and,
  • updates to the CFIA’s reportable disease web page on the 10th of each month.

On Feb. 19, 2020, a positive EIA result was confirmed by the CFIA’s national reference laboratory for a horse located on a premises in the rural municipality of Whitehorse in Yukon. The horse had been sampled by an accredited veterinarian at the owners’ request after they had taken ownership of it. No clinical signs of disease were noted at the time of sampling.

A CFIA investigation is underway and as per program policy, movement controls have been placed on the infected horse and its on-premises contact animals. Initial reports indicate there are other equines on the affected premises. Movement controls will remain until all disease response activities have been completed, including follow-up testing and ordering the destruction of positive cases. Trace-out activities may require the CFIA to undertake actions at additional premises as outlined in the current policy.

Please refer to the CFIA EIA web page for more information about EIA and the national disease control program. Additional information about the case, including its specific location, cannot be released in accordance with Canadian privacy laws.