NDA Confirms EIA in Nye County Horse; 12 Exposed, One Euthanized

The Nevada Department of Agriculture confirmed that equine infectious anemia (EIA) has been detected in a horse in Nye County and issued an official quarantine for the facility and exposed horses, State Veterinarian Dr. Peter Rolfe said. “We are working closely with the veterinarians in the area to address the situation and protect Nevada’s animals,” Rolfe said in the NDA statement accompanying the quarantine notice.

An outbreak alert posted by the Equine Disease Communication Center and republished by ColoradoHorseSource on Feb. 5, 2026 lists the incident as one confirmed case, 12 exposed animals, and one euthanized animal. The EDCC alert classifies the site as a training facility and explicitly states that testing of exposed horses on the premises is pending; the alert also notes that updates will be posted as they are received.

Public health and transmission details released by state officials and local broadcasters stress that EIA is confined to equids and is not a human health risk. KOLO reported the NDA saying, “The disease is transmitted in equine species through blood contact and cannot be spread through coughs, sneezes or casual contact,” and added that “EIA can cause fever, weakness, swelling, irregular heartbeat and low red blood cell count.” KLAS noted that EIA is viral, sometimes fatal, and that “There is no treatment for the disease,” underscoring the veterinary focus of the response.

NDA and local news outlets withheld the facility’s name and exact location under Nevada law. The Pahrump Valley Times cited Nevada Revised Statute 571.160 as the legal basis for nondisclosure, and KOLO similarly reported that information about the detection cannot be released under state law. Fox5 specifically reported that officials did not say when the positive test was detected.

Regulatory and movement requirements were reiterated as part of the advisory to horse owners. KLAS summarized NDA guidance that Nevada requires a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and proof of a negative EIA test within 12 months before entering the state, and that negative tests are required for movement between states. KOLO and Fox5 added that any horses entering the United States from other countries require testing and quarantine prior to entry, and the release referenced U.S. Department of Agriculture import requirements.

The EDCC numbers and the classification of the premises as a training facility provide specific counts and context that were not detailed in the NDA’s public release; ColoradoHorseSource lists “Number Confirmed: 1; Number Exposed: 12; Number Euthanized: 1” and notes testing of exposed horses is pending. NDA officials, local veterinarians, and federal agencies are the logical next contacts for confirmation of those counts, the type of diagnostic test used, and the timeline for quarantine release. For now, state officials are coordinating with area veterinarians while the EDCC says it will post updates as new information becomes available.