Brown County Fair says no exposure to 'strangles' among its horses, cases reported nearby

Key Points:

• Strangles, a highly infectious equine disease, has been reported in Northeast Wisconsin with confirmed cases in Waupaca and Winnebago counties this month, prompting health concerns at local fairs.
• The disease spreads through direct contact or contaminated surfaces, with symptoms including fever, abscesses, nasal discharge, inflammation, wheezing, and coughing; most horses recover without antibiotics.
• Waupaca County has banned horses from its fair this week and postponed its horse event to October 12 as a precaution following potential exposure, while emphasizing the importance of safety measures in managing traveling animals.
• The Brown County Fair, which recently concluded, stated it followed standard safety protocols and reported no confirmed cases or symptoms of Strangles among horses at the event.
• Waupaca County Fair is set to begin Tuesday and continue through next Sunday, with ongoing monitoring of the situation to protect equine health.