Equine infectious anaemia in Devon
A second horse has been diagnosed with Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) in the UK. The horse was found in Devon on 18th October, the neighbouring county to the first case of 'swamp fever', which was diagnosed in Cornwall at the start of October.
DEFRA has confirmed that both horses have been destroyed and movement restrictions have been put in place on both premises to try and contain the spread of the disease. A veterinary inquiry into the clinical history of this most recent case in Devon is underway.
Prior to diagnosis, the two horses had previously come into contact with one another, and both cases are also linked to another case which was diagnosed in Devon in 2010. All three horses have been discovered to have travelled into the UK together in April 2008. DEFRA has been tracking the batch of horses and so far has found just two other horses of the suspected 15, both of which tested negative for EIA.
Nigel Gibbens, Chief Veterinary Officer for the UK, labelled EIA as "serious", and commented: "This country has a robust record of disease prevention and management. All reports of suspected notifiable disease are taken exceptional seriously and are investigated immediately."
EIA is a notifiable disease; if the disease is suspected, it must be reported to the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA).
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
