Dangerous Disease If Spreading In West Tennessee

JACKSON, Tenn. -- An extremely dangerous and possibly fatal horse disease is spreading in West Tennessee.

"It's called equine infectious anemia, or EIA, and is something we take seriously," Corinne Gould said.

The state veterinarian announced Thursday four cases of the illness, also known as Coggins, has been reported at three different locations in Henderson County.

"It's like HIV for humans," Tina Wooley with R&J Feed Supply said. "It completely shuts down the horse's immune system."

Experts say a horse should be tested for Coggins every year, typically in spring.

The state requires any horse that's leaving its stable to test negative for Coggins before they travel.

If a horse tests positive, the owner has only two options.

"They either have to put the horse down or they have to put them in quarantine," Gould said.

Experts say Coggins is spread through insect bites and that mosquitoes and horse flies are the typical transmitters.

"If a fly bites a horse that's contagious, then bites the horse I'm carrying, his chances are a lot higher," Wooley said.

State officials say to practice high standards of fly control to prevent that from happening.