DATE: Sunday, May 18, 1997                  TAG: 9705180004

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 

DATELINE: BEAUFORT                          LENGTH:   30 lines

STATE TESTS HORSES FOR FATAL VIRUS IN BEAUFORT AND CEDAR ISLAND

A team from the state Department of Agriculture visited Beaufort and Cedar Island last week to investigate a beach area with up to eight horses untested for equine infectious anemia.

Dr. M. Andrew Mixson, the leader of the team, said the untested horses were contained by natural water barriers but had access to the Cedar Island ferry terminal.

``We have a great deal of concern these untested horses may carry the equine infectious anemia,'' Mixson said.

Mixson said five other horses from the herd had to be killed in February after testing positive for the disease. Mixson said the team has quarantined the area from the Cedar Island riding stables to Hog Island until June 1, or until the horses are tested.

EIA, a viral-borne disease, is similar to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome virus found in humans but is found in horses, mules and donkeys. It is spread by biting insects. The disease poses no threat to humans.

Last year, state veterinarians killed 76 of 184 wild mustangs on the Shackleford Banks section of the Cape Lookout National Seashore after they tested positive for EIA. ILLUSTRATION: Drawing

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