Defra is “monitoring the situation” after a group of horses in the UK is known to have “had some contact” with equines infected with equine infectious anaemia (EIA).

The horses are thought to be at “low risk” as the infected horses they were in contact with, who were not in the UK, were not showing any clinical signs.

EIA is a viral disease that attacks a horse’s immune system. It is not known to be present in the UK and the last outbreak in Britain was in 2012.

It is a notifiable disease, meaning owners must contact Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency if they suspect their horse has EIA.

There is no cure and it can be spread through contaminated blood, blood products, instruments or needles, and by blood-sucking insects.

In early July, EIA outbreaks were reported in Germany and the Netherlands, connected to the import of some Argentinian polo ponies between 2008 and 2012.

Mark Bowen, British Equine Veterinary Association vice-president, said at the time that the outbreak is a reminder to everyone working with horses to remain vigilant about exotic disease.

“However, the risk of spread through the native equine population in the UK remains very low,” he said.

“Post-importation controls and checks should help to limit entry of infected animals into the UK, but previous isolated cases that have been detected in the UK have not resulted in onward spread to other horses.

“Given that the primary route for spread of infection is through biting flies, separation of horses and use of efficacious fly repellants can further reduce risks.

“That does not mean that routine hygiene and biosecurity should be overlooked, since direct and indirect transmission via equipment is possible.”

Article continues below…

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A Defra update, dated 25 July, stated that Germany had reported three further outbreaks of the disease. According to German authorities, 13 polo ponies have tested positive at nine separate premises.

Spain, Switzerland, Hungary and the Republic of Macedonia have also reported cases.

“Disease control measures are in place in all the countries mentioned above and this includes culling infected animals,” said a Defra spokesman.

“Restricting and tracing other contacts are also under way in Germany, Spain, Switzerland and Netherlands.

“Within that framework there are six equidae identified on one holding in the UK which have had some contact with infected horses and are therefore similarly under restriction while testing takes place.

“Because the contacts have been with horses not showing any clinical signs, these are more than likely to be low risk tracings, nevertheless we will continue to monitor the situation.”

Click here to read the full Defra statement

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Neurological equine herpes virus (EHV-1) brought hunting in part of the south- west to a halt for a week.

The Exmoor and the Devon and Somerset Staghounds (D&S) took a self-imposed break from 17-24 November, and the Dulverton West were on foot as H&H went to press.

The halt followed concerns that D&S joint-master Rupert Andrews’ horse had the potentially fatal virus, which affects the nervous system.

Mr Andrews learned his horse was clear on Friday (23 November).

The Exmoor resumed hunting on Monday and the D&S were due to go out on Tuesday (27 November).

“It’s a relief to know that its not EHV-1 and that we can hunt again,” said Mr Andrews. “We wanted to make sure we took no unneccesary risks.”

EHV-1 was confirmed on racehorse trainer Victor Dartnall’s yard in North Devon on 14 November.

Several of his horses have been put down.

Mr Andrews’ yard is four miles away and after a day with the staghounds on

10 November the master’s horse became weak in its back end — a sign of EHV-1.

The scare came a few days after British horse owners’ lax attitude to bio-security was highlighted at a welfare conference and calls were made for the government to tighten up imports and exports of horses in the UK.

“It is astonishing that we have not had a major outbreak of something nasty because our horses have virtually no resistance to exotic diseases [and] we have almost no bio-security in our yards,” Countryside Alliance president Baroness Mallalieu told the World Horse Welfare conference on 15 November.

The welfare conference also discussed the role the movement of low-value horses from Europe plays in the spread of disease.

Horse industry figures met Defra and representatives of the French and Irish governments on 14 November to discuss possible changes to the “tripartite agreement”.

The agreement was set up in the 1970s to allow racehorses to move between the UK, Ireland and France without a formal health certificate.

It was broadened to include all horses not destined for slaughter in 2005.

Cases of equine infectious anaemia (swamp fever) in Cornwall and Devon involved horses imported through France in 2008 and there are concerns that new diseases could enter the country in the same way.

The proposed changes to the tripartite agreement would mean only competition horses would move freely from the UK to France and back, all others would need veterinary checks.

A spokesman for Defra said discussions were ongoing.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (29 November 2012)

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Vets are “very concerned” after a second case of equine infectious anaemia (EIA) — also known as swamp fever — was confirmed in the south-west of England.

On 19 October a horse in Devon was put down after testing positive for the disease.

Defra confirmed that the case is linked to a horse that was euthanased on 3 October in Cornwall, and one found in Devon in 2010.

All three were imported from Belgium in April 2008 in a group of 18 horses.

At the time of going to press, four more of the shipment had been tested — with two negative and two awaiting results.

EIA affects horses’ immune systems and can cause death.

It is transmitted through blood, for example by biting flies or by using dirty syringes.

There is no cure, so infected horses must be euthanased.

Keith Chandler, president of the British Equestrian Veterinary Association, said: “It’s easy to say all horses should be tested, but it’s not as simple as that.

“We are very concerned by the potential threat to the horse industry.”

H&H veterinary adviser Karen Coumbe added: “Greater care regarding imported animals would make sense.”

Defra said owners should not panic.

“We have robust controls to prevent infected horses being imported,” said deputy chief veterinary officer Alick Simmons. “We have no reason to believe this disease is widespread in the UK.”

This news story was published in 25 October issue of H&H

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A horse in Cornwall has been confirmed to have Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA), also known as swamp fever.

Defra confirmed the case today (Wednesday 3 October) and the horse will be put down.

Around 20 other horses on the yard have been placed under quarantine and are being tested.

EIA is a virus that attacks a horse’s immune system. It is passed by biting insects such as flies and can cause death, as well as mares to abort.

There is no cure, so horses confirmed with EIA are put down to prevent spread of disease.

It is the second time this week EIA has been in the news – on Monday (1 October) racehorse Danedream was pulled from this weekend’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after a case was found at Cologne racecourse in Germany, where she is based, preventing her from travelling.

• What you need to know about EIA/swap fever
• How to recognise EIA/swamp fever

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Cologne racecourse in Germany has been put under quarantine lock down after a case of equine infectious anaemia (EIA), also known as swamp fever, has been detected.

And German racehorse Danedream, who is based at the racecourse, will not be able to run in this weekend’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe due to restrictions on movement.

The four-year-old filly was due to run in Sunday’s (7 October) race at Longchamp after winning last year.

But vets have banned her from travelling, as no horses can go in or out of the racecourse for the next three months.

EIA is a viral disease that attacks a horse’s immune system. It is passed by as flies and can cause death, as well as mares to abort.

Julien Pescatore of France Galop [the French horseracing authority] said: “There is a quarantine period of 90 days, and for that reason Danedream will not be able to run in the Arc. It is really sad that she will not be able to run, but there is nothing we can do about it.”

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British-based riders who compete their horses in Europe must remain vigilant if the UK is to remain free of Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA or swamp fever).

A veterinary assessment by Defra has found there is a “very low” overall risk of EIA being spread in the UK from horses that have visited infected areas. But the risk rises to “medium” if horses visit Europe between April and October, when flies, which transmit the disease, are most active.

The disease is circulating in Italy and Romania, but there were three cases reported in the UK last year (news, 21 April, 2010).

UK chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens said: “Competing with horses in endemic areas like Italy has its risks and owners have a responsibility to protect the rest of the industry.

“There’s a very low risk but it’s crucial that horses are regularly assessed when they’re abroad and back home, and that any suspicions are reported quickly.”

EIA is transmitted by biting flies and tainted blood products.

Signs include haemorrhages, intermittent fever, swelling of legs and head and anaemia. It can also cause organ failure and death.

The British Equestrian Federation’s Claire Shand told H&H that riders have been briefed on the dangers of EIA. But she feels they are unlikely to spread the disease.

“They all have such scrupulous checks and systems in place and the very best veterinary care for their horses,” she said.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (7 July, 2011)

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Following an initially “weak response” to the emergence of equine infectious anaemia (EIA or swamp fever) in the south-west last year, the local Animal Health team has asked riders how they can do better.

Ministry vets and Trading Standards officers met riders last week in the first of a series of workshops organised by Defra’s Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA).

The initiative by Dorset Trading Standards and AHVLA Southwest follows the “lessons learned” document produced by Defra (news, 21 April) after three outbreaks of EIA in 2010.

Ben Goddard of AHVLA Southwest said: “Having EIA in our area last year made us realise that we don’t know that much about the [local] equestrian community or how to make contact with them, and that our vets are more used to handling farm animals than horses.”

Officials had trouble finding out where horses were kept in the areas around infected farms — resorting to using a helicopter to spot horses from the air and then visiting those premises.

Neil Martin of Dorset Trading Standards added: “We have plans to deal with all disease, but the one for EIA was not detailed and we felt our response [to the first incident] was a little weak.”

Christine Scott of Dorset Trading Standards told H&H: “People with equine experience tend to deal with calls to horses, so a day like this is very helpful.”

In the afternoon the equine experts, from the British Horse Society and World Horse Welfare, were asked to advise AHVLA on how equine disease outbreaks can be better dealt with.

Issues included improving the National Equine Database, adding factsheets about spotting equine disease to the Defra website and making passport updates, like changes of ownership, easier.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (19 May, 2011)

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Find out more about equine infectious anaemia

Looking for an equine vet?

Defra is reviewing regulations surrounding equine disease outbreaks after four horses contracted equine infectious anaemia (EIA or swamp fever) in the UK last year.

The department has identified 18 lessons to be learned from the outbreaks, including the setting up of a group comprising horse industry figures, to advise Defra and government agency Animal Health in the advent of a disease outbreak, as well as a review of post-import checks.

Lessons learnt

• The culling option needs to be reviewed and the operations manual updated
• Risk assessment for the transportation of EIA infected carcasses needs to be carried out
• Animal Health (AH) selection of import consignments requiring document checks, clinical inspection and sampling must be reviewed
• Veterinary capability for sampling and handling techniques needs reviewing
• Communication between Defra/AH and local vets needs to improve in an outbreak
• National Epidemiology Emergency Group needs to be reviewed and the findings of the group implemented
• Communications with local authorities need to improve
• Moves towards setting up an equine core group — advisers to help AH better understand the wide range of horse owners and keepers — must continue
• Equine industry to be representated at meetings of the National Disease Control Centre
• Public to be told location but not name and address in the event of an outbreak
• Defra/AH to increase information about reporting suspected notifiable disease for vets and keepers
• Review dangers of not having a comprehensive database with location of horses. Look for solutions to improve record keeping and access to passport information
• Defra to look at producing an EIA control strategy
• AH should review need for extra veterinary training in new and emerging diseases
• Defra and AH must ensure procedures relating to case conferences are understood by all involved
• Standard terms of reference should be drawn-up for pre-confirmation outbreak timetables
• AH needs to add reviewed guidance on cleaning and disinfection to equine section of operations manual
• Defra to consider movement licences that may be necessary in future outbreaks — ie to move horses to fresh grazingFor the full news story on what lessons have been learnt from equine infectious anaemia, see Horse & Hound (21 April, 2011)Read more about equine infectious anaemiaFind an equine vet

Defra is reviewing regulations surrounding equine disease outbreaks after four horses contracted equine infectious anaemia (EIA or swamp fever) in the UK last year.

The department has identified 18 lessons to be learned from the outbreaks, including the setting up of a group comprising horse industry figures, to advise Defra and government agency Animal Health in the advent of a disease outbreak, as well as a review of post-import checks.

Two horses developed EIA in Wiltshire in January 2010, followed by two more horses in September at different ends of the country — one in Devon and one in Northumberland.

They had all been imported into the UK from Europe, one of them two years before.

Defra chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens said: “The September outbreaks of EIA showed how we can deal with incidents of the disease, but also that there is a real threat of the disease appearing in the UK.

“It is crucial for owners and vets to remain vigilant for signs of the disease and report any suspicions quickly.

“I am pleased that work with the new core group of equine stakeholders has very much improved the exchange of information between government and industry. But we can improve further and are now working on this.”

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers will sit on the equine core group. He said the report shows the UK is ill-prepared for an outbreak.

And disease expert Professor Josh Slater added: “It is easy to think of exotic disease as something that happens somewhere else, but we all have our part to play in the fight against equine diseases.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (21 April, 2011)

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Separate animal health budgets for England, Scotland and Wales to promote animal welfare and tackle disease outbreaks have been cautiously welcomed by equestrian bodies.

Since devolution, Wales and Scotland have managed their own policy decisions, but from 1 April they will also choose how to spend animal health funds.

England will have £105m to spend, while Scotland will receive £21.03m and Wales £21.02m over the tax year.

But these figures will decrease over the next four years, in line with Defra’s budget cuts.

Josh Slater, council member for the British Equestrian Veterinary Association (BEVA), said: “This is a logical step to join up policy making and budgeting and a clear benefit for Scotland and Wales.

“But it is essential that we maintain our high level of biosecurity. Horses are a global business and we must be confident in our own defences.”

The two outbreaks of equine infectious anaemia, also known as swamp fever, in the UK last year (news, 16 September 2010) could have been a major issue if Defra had not been able to intervene quickly, he added.

Professor Tim Morris, chairman of the British Horse Industry Confederation, said: “This decision will have an effect on long-term policy-making as each country has different priorities.

“Scotland tends to put more focus on farm animals while Wales is more likely to spend the money on horses.

“In an outbreak, there is no doubt that each country would work together as they have in the past. However we could see a differing approach to how quickly control measures were lowered.”

Muriel Colquhoun, president of Horsescotland (formerly the Scottish Equestrian Association), said: “It is essential that there is joined-up thinking in place. Disease does not stop at the borders.”

In a statement to parliament, Agriculture Minister Jim Paice said: “Research and surveillance will continue to be centrally funded to maintain scientific capacity and capability in Great Britain.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (31 March, 2011)

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Find an equine vet

Read more articles on swamp fever

While diseases such as strangles and ringworm continue to niggle, and equine flu is always a concern, the biggest worry is that of emerging exotic diseases.

Equine viral arteritis (EVA) has been detected in two stallions in the UK this year.

EVA-positive stallions and their infected semen are the most common ways this infection spreads over long distances and across borders.

It has now been proved that semen for artificial insemination (AI) can also carry the virus.

This has reinforced the view that vets should not inseminate any mare unless the semen arrives accompanied by an original health certificate or documentation confirming that the stallion has been fully tested.

Equine infectious anaemia (EIA), also known as swamp fever, has recently appeared in imported horses, while other diseases, such as West Nile Virus and African Horse Sickness, also pose a threat.

It is hard to quantify risk and even expert opinion varies, but everyone agrees that strict import and export controls are vital if the threat of disease is to be minimised, especially with the increase in global trade.

Some infections are more visible than others; sometimes a horse can carry a disease and not display obvious clinical signs.

Quarantine is therefore a sensible precaution for any new arrivals on a yard.

Vets have a role to play and by encouraging horse owners to be more proactive and aware of potential infection, we will help minimise the risks as much as possible.

To find out more about the veterinary advances made in 2010, including diagnostics, research and dope testing, see the current issue of Horse & Hound, 23 December

Learn more about swamp fever

Looking for an equine vet?

A Northumberland yard, where equine infectious anaemia (EIA or swamp fever) was diagnosed in a horse in September has reopened.

One horse was euthanased and others remained under quarantine for 90 days at the premises in Ashington, Northumberland after the disease was found.

The area has been under a movement restriction since the outbreak but the restrictions were removed on Thursday 16 December.

A Defra spokesman said: “Careful checks were made after the 90-day testing deadline. None of the other horses at the premises have the infection.”

The yard belongs to horsedealer John Graham and the infected horse was in a group imported from Holland in August.

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Stricter enforcement of passports, transport regulations and a halt to the trade in low-value animals are the only ways to stop exotic diseases infecting the British equine population, say leading vets, scientists and animal welfare experts.

This week, Defra confirmed to H&H that the horse destroyed after testing positive for equine infectious anaemia (EIA or swamp fever) in Devon had the disease before it was imported from Belgium in 2008.

But beyond that a Defra spokesman said the horse’s history is “unreliable”, because the Belgian organisation that issued its passport has been struck off for “irregularities”.

“Belgian authorities are investigating,” said the Defra spokesman, “but the horse may have originated from Romania.”

While the news is what most have expected, experts say confirmation that a horse that was infected, but not showing signs, has been in the country for two years is “another wake-up call”.

Professor Tim Morris, director of welfare at the British Horseracing Association and current chairman of the British Horse Industry Confederation, said it is a “huge concern”.

“It is normal for a horse with EIA to be perfectly healthy for some time,” he said. “So who knows whether it’s spread over that time.”

He said the chance that other horses infected with EIA are in Britain cannot be ruled out.

“Inappropriate health controls have been happening for some time,” he said. “We need to close the door to free movement — and there needs to be better enforcement of regulations.”

Animal Health Trust disease expert Richard Newton said the case can be “put into a measured perspective” by understanding that transmission from “subclinical cases” is relatively difficult.

But he too said screening for diseases needs to be improved, especially in European imports.

“The low-value animal trade is a particular Achilles heel for us,” he added.

Stopping the spread of disease was the core message at World Horse Welfare’s annual conference in London two weeks ago.

Chief executive Roly Owers told H&H that the trade in low-value animals in Britain is increasing.

“While people continue to buy these horses, the dealers will keep bringing them in,” he said.

“And if they come through France [under the Tripartite Agreement], we don’t have a clue where they’ve come from.”

Inadequate and forged passports are also to blame, said Wrexham Borough Council animal health and welfare officer Graham Capper.

Speaking at the World Horse Welfare conference, he said nearly a quarter of horses on vehicles stopped at ports in North Wales between 2008 and 2009 did not have passports.

Out of around 400 horses, 100 had no passport, 32 were registered to the wrong owner and 341 passports showed no record of what drugs the horse had been given, nor whether the horse was signed in or out of the food chain.

“The whole issue of passports is in disarray,” he said. “We are losing the history of these horses.”

Two horses on the yard where the EIA-infected horse was put down in Devon, and two donkeys on neighbouring premises, remain under surveillance. All will be retested next month.

Horses at the yard in Northumberland where a horse with EIA was destroyed on 7 September will be retested early in December before movement restrictions can be lifted.

A Defra spokesman said there were no plans to tighten the Tripartite Agreement, allowing free movement of horses between Ireland, Britain and France, but added: “We have increased post-import surveillance on consignments of more than four horses from the Continent.”

This article was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound, 25 November ’10

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BBC Radio 5 live will investigate the reappearance of equine infectious anaemia (EIA) or swamp fever in the UK this year in a special report.

The article goes out between 9-10am this Sunday (17 October).

Speaking to 5 live Investigates the World Horse Welfare charity warns of the potential for the disease to spread and the devastating effect this could have on Britain’s horse owners.

And the programme will also examine claims that infected but healthy-looking horses are being sold on from Romania.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Owners wanting information about swamp fever outbreaks can sign up for a government-run free disease text alert service. But Animal Health, the part of Defra that operates the service, has omitted to let anyone know about it.

The government body has come under fire for the lack of information it is relaying to horse owners close to the swamp fever (equine infectious anaemia or EIA) cases in Northumberland and Devon.

Though the National Equine Database (NED) supposedly holds contact details for all UK horse owners, a Defra spokesman said it is “not the appropriate tool to trace horse owners”.

He said the free text messaging service, launched for the equine community in 2009, was available.

However, the spokesman admitted: “There is a need to raise awareness of this system”, and although it has been in existence for a year, “a news release has not been issued”.

In Highampton, Devon, owners were on tenterhooks to discover whether two horses kept with the animal that developed EIA had also tested positive.

The three horses were understood to have been regularly mixing with the local horse population — in a village that was hit badly by the last foot-and-mouth outbreak.

One owner told H&H: “I heard the horses tested negative from a neighbour, so we feel slightly less worried, but I have had no reassurance or guidance from Defra — despite giving my vet my details because I live within a quarter of a mile of the premises where the case was found.

“There are only four horse owners in very close proximity, so it is hardly a big job for Defra to keep us informed.”

A Defra spokesman said that, as well as the text alert system, all official vets were informed, along with local and national media and industry groups.

He added: “Information is available on the Defra website, which has been updated regularly with developments.”

The disease text alert system was set up for the farmers, but after work with “various national equine organisations”, Animal Health extended the system to equine keepers last year.

A spokesman for Defra’s Animal Health division said the British Horse Society and British Horse Racing Society [sic — we believe he means the British Horseracing Authority] were involved in discussions last year.

But BHA welfare director Tim Morris said that although the idea was mooted last year, Animal Health failed to inform the industry the system was live.

“But it is excellent news that it is working and I’d urge every horse owner to sign up,” he said.

The stigma of an outbreak

Defra has also been heavily and repeatedly criticised for not disclosing the exact location of the two cases.

Last week, a spokesman said: “We do not disclose the precise details of an infected premises, as some owners might be less inclined to report potential disease if they know their details are going to be made public.”

On Monday, the same spokesman said Defra’s position remained unchanged, adding: “The policy is longstanding and subject to strict data protection laws.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (23 September, ’10)

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Calls for tighter border controls on equine imports have been renewed following the confirmation of a third case of equine infectious anaemia (EIA) in nine months.

Defra has followed protocols for managing an exotic disease outbreak, quarantining yards in Northumberland and Devon.

The horses diagnosed with EIA — also known as swamp fever — have both been euthanased and movement restrictions have been placed on the yards involved.

At present, officials say the cases are unrelated. The horse in Northumberland did not appear ill, but was one of six “low-value” animals imported last month from the Netherlands, believed to have originated in Romania and therefore routinely tested on its arrival here.

While the other horses at the dealer’s yard have tested negative for EIA, they will remain in isolation and be retested in 30, 60 and 90 days.

A yard in Wiltshire was isolated in January and two horses with EIA imported from Romania via Belgium were euthanased.

The horse in Devon arrived in the UK two years ago and is believed also to have come by the same route. It was purchased at Hatherleigh Market and used as a leisure horse by the owner, who called a vet last week when it became ill.

Tests on the two other horses at the yard — believed to be in Highampton — have also come back negative.

Is free movement still safe?

“There is a fine balance between wanting free movement of animals for racing, competition and breeding purposes and effective disease control,” said Tim Morris, director of equine science and welfare for the British Horseracing Authority and chair of the British Horse Industry Confederation.

“Across the EU there have been a number of sporadic outbreaks over the past year — so should we be concerned that EIA is around [in the UK] more than we think it is?”

Vet Chris House, of the British Equine Veterinary Association, agreed, adding that Devon is a worryingly “warm and wet” area of the UK for a disease nicknamed swamp fever to be found.

“It all reinforces the case for pre-import testing — we shouldn’t be in this position,” he said.

“Imagine you’re buying a rescue horse from France. You haven’t a clue where it came from.”

But Prof Morris, one of a group of horse industry officials who took part in emergency tele-conferences at the weekend, said horse owners should not be “very” alarmed.

“Our experience is that, in relative terms, it is not as easy to transmit as other diseases,” he said. “But owners must be alert to anything unusual.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (16 September, ’10)

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Two horses kept on the same premises in Devon as a horse that was diagnosed with EIA (swamp fever) last weekend have tested negative for the deadly disease.

Defra has said this afternoon that the horses remain healthy, but will be kept on the premises and tested again in 90 days.

Restrictions will remain in place during those 90 days.

Defra’s chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens said: “Minismising the risk of spread has been Defra’s primary concern from the outset.

“Our assessment is that the risk [of EIA transmission] is very low, as the horse [that was destroyed at the weekend] had only recently become ill.”

Local horse owners have reacted with anger that Defra has not named the yard at which the horse infected with equine infectious anaemia (known as EIA or swamp fever). A bridleway is believed to run beside the property.

Neighbours also believe biosecurity measures and Defra’s efforts to trace horses the sick animal came into contact with have been inadequate.

But Defra chef veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens said: “[From the time the horse became ill], it presented a risk of spread only to other horses kept within 200 metres — biting flies are very unlikely to fly further than this.

“We have been checking other horses in the area and will contact any owners that we identify.”

Another horse in Northumberland tested positive for EIA last week, but Defra says the two cases are not being linked.

Earlier this year, a yard in Wiltshire was quarantined after a horse tested positive for EIA shortly after being imported into the UK.

All the cases have occurred in horses that have come from Romania via either Belgium or The Netherlands.

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After the confirmation of a third case of equine infectious anaemia (EIA), or swamp fever, in the UK in nine months, Defra are following protocols for managing an exotic disease outbreak and there have been calls for tighter border controls on equine imports.

But what signs do you need to look out for in your own horse, and how might they get it? H&H finds out…

Transmission

• Swamp fever is transmitted by biting insects, infected blood products, from mare to foal, contaminated veterinary or dental equipment and other equipment that may be contaminated by blood (eg twitches and curry combs)

Signs

• Swamp fever can take on acute, chronic or sub-clinical (infected, but showing no signs) forms

• Signs of the acute form vary considerably, but include fever, depression, increased heart and respiratory rate, bloody diarrhoea, loss of co-ordination, poor performance, ataxia, rapid weight loss, skin swelling and jaundice. A chronically infected horse may have recurring bouts of fever, depression, anaemia, weakness or weight loss, interspersed with periods of normality

• Any horse showing severe, unexplained anaemia should be isolated and tested for EIA as soon as possible

Treatment

• There is no cure or vaccine and any EIA-positive horse will be compulsorily slaughtered

For more information, download a copy of the horse industry’s Codes of Practice on Equine Diseases from the Horserace Betting Levy Board website: http://www.hblb.org.uk/document.php?id=43

Devon-based event riders Lucy Wiegersma and Mary King have told H&H they are not panicking yet, despite their proximity to the latest case of equine infectious anaemia (EIA or swamp fever).

Lucy Wiegersma’s yard, Warren Farm, is less than two miles from the EIA case diagnosed in Devon last weekend. While she was out competing yesterday, a spokesman said the yard had spoken to local vets and was remaining calm and vigilant.

Read more about the signs of swamp fever and how it is transmitted .

She said: “We don’t hack past the yard where it has been found, and there’s nothing much more we can do than remain extra vigilant.”

Lucy’s spokesman added that locals are anxiously awaiting the results of tests done on two horses kept with the animal that was destroyed at the weekend.

“If the two horses kept with it have EIA too, and it’s not just an isolated case, it will be a different matter,” she said.

Olympic event rider Mary King lives in Sidmouth, a 90min drive from the swamp fever case in Highampton.

She told H&H she has spoken to a couple of vets for advice, and has been told not to worry too much.

“There is no implication for travelling Imperial Cavalier (pictured) to the World Equestrian Games,” she said.

But other neighbours are very concerned. H&H has spoken with horse owners in both Devon and Northumberland who have criticised Defra heavily for the way it has handled the cases — particularly for not disclosing locations of affected the yards.

Both the yard in Devon and in Ashington, Northumberland, where a horse was diagnosed with swamp fever last week, have bridleways running past them.

A spokesman for Defra said: “The local authorities have put in place notices at relevant points leading to the bridleway advising horse owners not to exercise their horses in this area.

“We do not disclose the precise details of an infected premises, as some owners might be less inclined to report potential disease if they know their details are going to be made public.”

• H&H is in close contact with Defra and will post regular updates to the story — the test results on the two horses kept at Highampton with the EIA case are due back sometime today (Tuesday).

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A second case of the deadly equine infectious anaemia (EIA or swamp fever) has been confirmed in a horse in Devon.

The disease came to light after the owner called in a private vet to examine the sick horse.

A Defra spokesman said the case in Devon and the case in Northumberland are not being linked at present.

Unlike the previous cases of EIA in Wiltshire in January and Northumberland last week, this horse has been in the country for two years. It only became ill recently, and has been humanely destroyed.

Defra has launched an investigation into how the horse came to contract swamp fever (EIA), and the premises on which the horse was kept is under restrictions.

Another two horses on the premises are being tested for evidence of equine infectious anaemia.

But the whereabouts of the premises has not been disclosed.

Defra chief vet Nigel Gibbens said: “The risk of notifiable disease is ever present.

“This case demonstrates the importance of owners being vigilant and identifying illness in their animals and consulting their vet who should then report any signs of exotic disease to the Animal Health Agency.”

In Northumberland, the horse infected with EIA has been humanely destroyed, and the premises in Ashington is under restrictions.

It arrived in the country in a group of six horses, five of which have tested negative, and a further 11 horses on the premises have also tested negative.

Horse owners in Northumberland have contacted H&H with concerns that they have received little information.

But a Defra spokesman said: “The local authority has put in place notices at relevant points advising horse owners not to exercise their horses in this area.

“We do not disclose the precise details of an infected premises.”

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Equine infectious anaemia (EIA) has been detected in a horse in Northumberland following importation from the Netherlands, Defra confirmed today (Tuesday).

The premises is currently under restriction and the infected horse will be humanely destroyed.

The other horses on the premises are currently being tested.

The horse arrived in a group of six horses from the Netherlands and all were tested for EIA as part of routine post-import testing.

The other five horses have tested negative.

Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens said: “This shows the success of our post import testing regime.

“These were apparently healthy horses carrying a notifiable disease that we are keen to keep out of Great Britain. After considering the risk I have decided to take appropriate action and humanely destroy this horse.”

Two horses in Wiltshire were found to have the infection in January.

Equine charity World Horse Welfare has warned horse owners to be on the look out for the viral infection, which causes intermittent fever, anaemia, emaciation and death.

It can be transmitted by the exchange of blood by biting insects and occurs typically in low-lying swampy areas.

Chief executive for the charity Roly Owers said: “Today’s news is extremely concerning and demonstrates the changing environment we’re living in.

“This is a real warning to us that we’re sailing far too close to the wind. The concerning question is where these horses came from given that Holland to date has not reported a case of EIA.

“With more and more horses moving across Europe, including the significant trade in low value animals, not just slaughter animals, we’re facing an increasing threat from the spread of disease.”

EIA is endemic in both Romania and Italy; Romania being one of the largest exporters and Italy being the largest importer of horses for slaughter in Europe.

In spite of the legal requirement for health certification before exporting horses from Romania, which were tightened in June 2010, there continues to be cases of EIA across Europe.

Three horses with EIA were found in Germany last week and the government there thinks they were imported illegally from Romania.

“World Horse Welfare advises owners to undertake rigorous checks when buying a horse from abroad and is discouraging anyone from importing Romanian horses,” said Mr Owers.

“Owners should also ensure that any horse they buy or that comes on to their yard has a passport, is checked for a microchip and that isolation and biosecurity measures are strictly followed for any new entry onto the yard.”

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No change will be made in the near future to the Tripartite Agreement, which allows free movement of horses between the UK, Ireland and France.

Officials from the three countries met in Dublin on 10 June to discuss the agreement.

This followed changes to Romanian export rules after the outbreak of swamp fever (equidea) in Britain and Belgium earlier this year (news, 20 May).

A Defra spokesman told H&H: “The categories of equidea were covered, but no consensus was reached in Dublin.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (24 June, ’10)

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Rules introduced by the European Union (EU) in an effort to clamp down on the spread of swamp fever from Romania are welcome, but do not go far enough, say industry experts.

The rules have been brought in after horses exported from Romania to Belgium and then the UK tested positive for the disease earlier this year.

“It’s a good decision and the EU has moved quite fast, but it’s not good enough to deal with Romania alone,” warned Keith Meldrum, a consultant for World Horse Welfare and former Defra chief vet.

“We should be dealing with the whole of the EU — especially Italy where the disease is endemic.”

Paul Jepson of The Horse Trust, who heads an industry work group on African Horse Sickness — another deadly equine disease — agreed.

“This is better than a halfway house, but Romania has land borders with about five other countries and will biting insects [that spread swamp fever] recognise borders? It should also apply to Italy,” he said.

“It would be better to say the UK shouldn’t accept horses from Romania — do we really need to anyway?”

A spokesman for Defra told H&H that 74 horses from six consignments were imported from Romania to the UK during 2007-08, but said the government has no figures on the number of horses that reach Britain indirectly — as was the case in the Wiltshire outbreak.

He added: “Defra does look at where horses originate from and tests those who have come from countries that have reported EIA outbreaks, like Romania and Italy.”

Despite this, the horses in Wiltshire were discovered to have the disease by chance, and the industry acknowledges the UK had a lucky escape from the worst-case scenario.

Officials from the UK, Ireland and France are also due to meet on 10 June to discuss a much called-for review of the Tripartite Agreement, which permits free travel of horses between the three countries.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (20 May, ’10)

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Quarantine regulations have been lifted on the Wiltshire yard where swamp fever was found in January.

Two horses were culled immediately and another 50 horses put into isolation after the outbreak, in horses imported from Romania, through Belgium.

Now after three sets of tests for the disease — also known as equine infectious anaemia (EIA) — at 30-day intervals, the premises have been declared free of the disease by Defra.

No further horses tested positive for EIA in that 90-day period.

EIA is an untreatable disease believed to be spread by the exchange of bodily fluids, including by insect bites.

Affected horses remain infectious carriers for life, and must be euthanased.

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Fifty-one horses on a yard in Wiltshire will have final tests for equine infectious anaemia (EIA or swamp fever) on 28 April.

Movement restrictions have been in place on the yard since January, when two horses imported from Romania before Christmas were found to have the disease.

A Defra spokesman confirmed to H&H that restrictions will be lifted if the tests are negative, adding: “We would typically expect results a couple of days after testing.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (22 April, ’10)

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Rules on importing horses to the UK are under review following the two cases of equine infectious anaemia (EIA or swamp fever) found in horses that travelled from Romania to a farm in Wiltshire this January.

A report published last week by Defra admits concern that current measures are ineffective.

The horses were imported in December by a horse dealer who sells large numbers of horses to slaughterhouses, horse sales and to travellers in the UK.

The diseased horses were certified healthy on leaving Romania, where EIA is endemic. Had they travelled directly to Britain, they would have been automatically tested again on entry.

But because they spent six weeks in Belgium they were not required to be tested again. They were only picked up by “Defra intelligence”.

A Defra spokesman told H&H: “We are discussing with the European Commission what can be put in place to prevent spread of disease from Romania and other EU member states where EIA has been confirmed.”

He added: “We are discussing the Tripartite Agreement [set up in the 1970s to allow travel of racehorses between Ireland, France and the UK without vet checks] with stakeholders and other signatory countries to assess whether it provides an acceptable level of disease risk management.”

The news will be welcomed by the UK horse industry which has for some time voiced concern that the agreement now covers any passported horse.

World Horse Welfare renewed calls for it to be reviewed following the EIA outbreak. And Paul Jepson of The Horse Trust, who is leading preparation work for an outbreak of African Horse Sickness (AHS), agreed.

“The Tripartite Agreement has always been a concern — and not just regarding EIA,” he said. “But there are other concerns, too. We are currently most worried that AHS might enter the UK via smuggled live vaccine from South Africa.”

He said: “Defra has been on the case with a really good disease team, but EIA has been a wake-up call — it could have been a very different story.”

Dr Richard Newton, head of disease surveillance at the Animal Health Trust, said it is “very easy” to see loopholes in the current importation system.

“What is in place detected the disease this time, but on other occasions it might have gone under the radar.”

He also questioned how easy it would be for disease tests to be falsified in a country like Romania that is “desperate” to export horses.

In January, worried owners set up a Downing Street petition calling for the Tripartite Agreement to be tightened and for health checks to be instigated on all other horses.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (4 March, ’10)

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A Defra investigation has traced only one horse that it says is at risk of developing swamp fever in Britain following the cases discovered in Wiltshire last month.

One animal from the shipment of Romanian horses that came to the UK via Belgium was moved from the yard in Wiltshire currently under isolation.

A Defra spokesman confirmed: “One horse from the original consignment had been sold, so it was traced and tested and the test was negative.”

Furthermore the spokesman said that during 22 December, when the horses arrived, and 11 January, when they were tested, no other equines were taken on or off the Wiltshire premises.

The owner of the yard has not yet been officially named, but widespread speculation suggests he is a large-scale dealer and H&H has received unsubstantiated reports that horses were taken to sale rings around the country over the Christmas and New Year period.

Defra said on Wednesday that two horses have been traced in Britain that came into contact with an EIA-positive horse in Belgium. He said they have tested negative, and that further tests are pending — but their whereabouts is not specified.

The Defra spokesman told H&H yesterday that the yard in Wiltshire “is the only premises still under movement restrictions.”

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DEFRA is assuring worried horse owners that it has traced all equines that came into contact with the horses with swamp fever in Wiltshire last month.

Owners in Wiltshire closest to the yard on which the swamp fever cases were discovered have been concerned at the number of equines which may have been in contact with the EIA-positive horses.

The owner of the yard has not yet been officially named, but widespread speculation suggests he is a large-scale dealer and that many hundreds of horses pass through the yard each month.

But a Defra spokesman told H&H this morning: “All in-contact horses from the EIA (equine infectious anaemia) cases have been traced and have undergone initial tests.

“These were all negative, but obviously they need to undergo two more tests — at 30 and 60 days.”

He could not confirm this morning whether any more premises in the UK are in isolation — or how many horses have been tested.

The spokesman also said that Defra has been investigating implications to the case of swamp fever found in a horse in Belgium since the end of last week.

He said two horses have been traced in Britain that possibly came into contact with the diseased animal before Christmas.

“These have also tested negative at this stage, but further tests are pending,” he added.

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Three yards belonging to horse dealers in Belgium are in isolation tonight following the discovery of a horse with Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA or swamp fever).

The horse with swamp fever was an early part of the load of animals that travelled from Romania to Belgium and then on to Wiltshire where two horses were found to have the disease a fortnight ago.

Belgian authorities have been investigating since the two cases of swamp fever were discovered in horses belonging to a dealer in Wiltshire on 20 January.

Authorities have established that on 21 October 2009, 18 horses arrived from Romania at a dealer’s yard at Drongen, Belgium.

On 22 December, nine of these horses were sent to Wiltshire in the UK, where the infection was diagnosed in two equines a month later.

According to a report prepared by Newmarket’s Animal Health Trust (AHT), the Belgian investigation found that the nine horses remaining in the country were sold mid-November to one person at Assebroek. One of these horses was then sold on to this person’s brother at Meetkerke.

The AHT report, compiled for the International Collating Centre, states: “Currently no movements of horses to or from these facilities are permitted. All horses that have been in contact with the horses from Romania are being traced, movement controls applied on the farms and the animals tested for the infection.”

The EIA-positive horse is due to be euthanased and destroyed.

Movement restrictions are still in place on the yard in Wiltshire where the horses with swamp fever were found in January. Defra has confirmed to H&H that the 30 horses on site will be re-tested at 30, 60 and then 90 days before those restrictions are lifted.

We are still waiting for confirmation from Defra about what is being done to trace any horses that may have come in contact with the diseased animals after their arrival in Britain. The horses were in this country for a month before movement restrictions were imposed on the dealer’s yard.

Last week, Defra told us: “Epidemiological investigations are underway to assess all possible contacts and any associated potential risks. This risk assessment will inform any further action required.”

We will provide further updates tomorrow.

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Restrictions on the travel of horses from the UK to the US have been lifted this morning.

Following the discovery of swamp fever (equine infectious anaemia or EIA) in two horses in Wiltshire, the US was one of 13 countries around the world that automatically stopped accepting equine exports from the UK.

But after talks between animal health authorities in the UK and America, movement of equines between the two countries has resumed.

“We have worked with the authorities in the USA to ensure that exports to the USA can take place, so long as EIA was not identified on the premises of origin, nor on any adjoining premises, during the 60 days preceding export of the horse to the US,” says a statement on the Defra website.

“Urgent exports to the US have proceeded with manual amendments [to export certificates].”

The swamp fever cases in Wiltshire still prevent the export of UK horses to: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Grenada, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Phillippines, Singapore, Thailand and Tunisia.

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Defra vets have spoken out today to reassure horse owners that the biting flies responsible for the spread of swamp fever — or EIA — are not active in the winter.

A spokesman for Defra told H&H this afternoon: “The only biting insects that spread the disease are large biting flies (tabanid species — horse flies) and Stomoxys calcitrans (stable flies) that feed on blood.”

“These are only active between May and September, with the peak of activity in July and August. They overwinter as maggots, and cannot spread EIA in this form.”

He added that the disease is not spread by midges — despite statements to the contrary appearing the press.

The two horses with swamp fever in Wiltshire were slaughtered yesterday. The restrictions on the two premises where the horses were held are likely to remain in place for up to 90 days.

Defra is also quashing rumours that the horses were tested randomly and EIA picked up only by chance.

“All imported horses we know have come from Romania are tested, as part of our risk management strategy,” he said.

The horses had come from Romania via Belgium — where it is understood they were held for “some time”.

The spokesman told H&H that the horses were certified as healthy upon leaving Belgium and Romania, but said UK officials would be talking to both countries “at EU level”.

As a result of the case, 13 countries worldwide will not allow horses from the UK to enter their shores — most notably the US. Other than these countries, horse exports from Britain are not banned.

“But we are discussing this with America and hope to have it resolved within a day or two,” confirmed Defra.

A number of Caribbean and South American countries are among the countries that will not allow horses to be imported unless their country of origin is free of EIA, as well as Japan, Kenya, Singapore and Bahrain.

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Another 50 horses on the premises in Wiltshire where two horses were found to have swamp fever [EIA] are awaiting tests.

A Defra spokesman has confirmed to H&H that the horses are pending an epidemiological investigation.

“The premises remains under restriction, while an epidemiological investigation takes place,” he said.

“This will include looking at whether some or all of the other animals need to be tested and when it would be best to do so bearing in mind incubation periods [for swamp fever].

The spokesman declined to comment on why the 10 horses from Romania and Belgium were imported into the UK, saying it would risk identifying the premises in Wiltshire on which they were found.

But speculation among the horse industry is that the yard belongs to a horse dealer. The horses were certified as having entered the UK for “breeding purposes” but that has been found not to be the case.

Defra discovered the two horses with swamp fever during routine post-import testing. Due to free trade laws, post-import testing can only be carried out on a random basis, and experts are already saying the UK horse industry has been “incredibly lucky” to have found the disease on this occasion.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers added his appreciation to Defra for acting so swiftly, but questioned why the discovery was made a month after the horses arrived in the UK — on 22 December.

“Why has it been such a long time and what are they doing here?” he asked, adding that World Horse Welfare has been monitoring the travel of horses from Romania — where EIA is endemic — across Europe for years.

“We have been concerned about practices and highlighted them to Europe and to Defra,” he said. “Under the Tripartite Agreement there is free travel of horses between the UK, Ireland and France so there is no reason why these would have been picked up — the horse industry is lucky this time.”

He added that the practice of buying cheaper horses from Eastern Europe is fraught with danger.

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Equine infectious anaemia (EIA), also known as swamp fever, is a viral disease that attacks the horse’s immune system. There is no cure and no vaccine for this viral infection, which is caused by a retrovirus closely related to the HIV virus in humans.

EIA is often fatal to horses but does not affect humans. Symptoms include a reoccurring fever and anaemia. However, horses can also carry the virus without displaying any clinical signs and once they have become carriers, they remain infectious for life. For this reason all infected animals must be humanely destroyed to control the spread of disease.

Blood-sucking insects, such as horse flies, are the most common transmitters of the virus. It can also be transmitted through the use of contaminated blood or blood products, instruments or needles. Pregnant mares may pass the disease to their foals in the womb.

EIA was first identified in France in 1843, and the last outbreak in England was in 1976. The virus is found worldwide and there was a serious outbreak in Ireland in 2006. It is a notifiable disease in the UK. If you suspect that your horse may be suffering from the disease you must immediately notify the duty vet in your local Animal Health Office (check on the Defra website or in the Yellow Pages for contact details).

EIA is confirmed through a blood test called the Coggins test. If EIA is confirmed then Defra can order the destruction of the horse, regardless of the owner’s wishes. If the power to slaughter is invoked, the Animal Health Office will organise for the horse to be put down and for the carcass to be safely removed.

Horses that have been in contact with a horse that has tested positive for the infection will be kept under restrictions and tested until they are confirmed to not be carriers. Horses will not be culled just because they have been in contact with an infected horse.

For more information visit the Defra website

Horse owners are being advised not to panic over the news that swamp fever (equine infectious anaemia or EIA) has been found in Britain.

Defra last night confirmed that two horses have been humanely destroyed after testing positive to swamp fever — or EIA — and that the premises on which they were being kept, in Wiltshire, have been isolated.

British Horse Society (BHS) head of welfare Lee Hackett said last night: “Obviously any outbreak of an exotic disease is very worrying and this is news that we did not want to hear.

“But there is no reason to panic and every reason to hope that these cases are an isolated incident and be successfully contained.”

He said Defra has acted “incredibly quickly” and taken every possible precaution to ensure the outbreak of swamp fever is suppressed.

British Horseracing Authority (BHA) director of welfare Tim Morris said no one must be complacent, but offered further reassurance to both the horse-owning public, and the horseracing industry.

“Defra does not think the risk of spread is high or that racing will be affected,” said Mr Morris. “EIA is spread by biting flies and such spread is unlikely at this time of year and with the current weather.”

The EIA was picked up after routine post-import testing of horses from Romania and Belgium. They arrived in the UK on 22 December.

The horses are not competition or racehorses, or breeding animals — and Romania is one of the largest exporters of horses for slaughter in Europe.

Horse & Hound has asked Defra why the Romania horses were in Wiltshire — and we will keep readers regularly updated as things progress.

EIA is often fatal to horses. If the affected animal recovers it remains a lifelong carrier of the disease and will thereby be infectious to other animals, therefore all infected animals must be humanely destroyed to control the spread of disease.

Read more about swamp fever

• H&H will provide updates as soon as we receive them and are in constant communication with Defra and other horse industry officials.

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The horse world is on red-alert following the news that two horses carrying Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) — often termed “swamp fever” — have been found in Britain.

Swamp fever is not transferable to humans but is fatal in equines. If an infected horse does not die, it will carry the disease for life and faces indefinite isolation or compulsory euthanasia.

It causes intermittent fever, anaemia, emaciation and death.

The horses were imported into the country from Romania via Belgium on 22 December. They arrived in a group of 10 horses, nine of which originated from Romania and one from Belgium.

Defra has confirmed the horses are being destroyed.

The horses were not displaying signs of swamp fever, but tested positive for antibodies to EIA during routine post-import testing.

The premises in Wiltshire on which they were kept has been isolated, and work is urgently being carried out to trace what other animals have been in contact with the infected horses since they entered the country.

The seven other horses they travelled from Romania with have tested negative, and tests are currently being carried out on the horse from Belgium.

EIA or swamp fever is spread via blood contact and biting flies — so vets are hoping the cases will have been contained.

But the news is likely to be a huge worry for the entire British horse industry. In 2006, Ireland’s equine and bloodstock industry was crippled when an outbreak of EIA spread through the country.

Defra’s chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens said; “The last case of EIA infected animals being imported into Great Britain was in 1976. These were apparently healthy horses carrying a notifiable disease that we are keen to keep out of the country.

“After considering the risk, I have decided to take appropriate action and humanely destroy these two horses that tested positive.”

The disease has also been found in recent years in both Italy and Germany, but it is endemic in Romania — which joined the EU on 1 January 2007 — where there may be up to 16,000 cases at any one time.

Read the facts about swamp fever.

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Swamp fever, or equine infectious anaemia (EIA), has broken out in France. Fourteen cases of the potentially fatal virus have been detected in Provence, where 24 premises are now under restrictions.

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) renewed calls for Defra to review the Tripartite Agreement, an arrangement between the UK, Ireland and France that allows the easy movement of horses.

“There is very little threat of competition horses spreading EIA,” said BEVA president Chris House. “Our concern is rescue horses and other animals that have been in the affected area.”

Professor Richard Newton of the Animal Health Trust said if the Tripartite Agreement were followed to the letter, there would be no problem.

“The agreement stipulates only healthy, registered horses may move freely between the countries, but policing is a problem,” he said.

But a Defra spokesman told H&H no additional veterinary checks would be put in place: “The outbreak highlights the need for horse owners and vets to be vigilant,” she said.

And the British Horseracing Authority’s director of equine science and welfare, Tim Morris, said the disease posed “low risk” at present.

The Provencal outbreak follows one in the Ardeche, France, last August, when four horses were euthanased.

EIA is transmitted by midges and tainted blood products. Signs include haemorrhages, intermittent fever, swelling of the legs and head and anaemia. It can also cause organ failure and death.

Though EIA is endemic in some parts of Europe, horses in the UK have never been exposed, so are highly susceptible.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (14 May, ’09)

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Ireland is finally free from swamp fever, or Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA). Nine months after the first case of the deadly disease swamp fever or EIA was confirmed in Ireland, the country has the all clear.

Since the first case of swamp fever was diagnosed in Ireland on 15 June 2006, almost 57,000 blood samples have been taken. Restrictions were this week lifted on the last premises, 90 days since the last and 28th case was confirmed on 10 December 2006.

Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan, praised the horse industry for the willing manner in which they had worked with the government during the past nine months which she described as: “a very difficult period for the Irish bloodstock industry”.

Minister Coughlan warned that while now there is an obvious sense of relief, vets must “maintain a high level of vigilance” in relation to swamp fever.

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“Swamp fever” continues to claim victims in Ireland with another two cases confirmed last week, bringing the total to 24.

Although the Irish Department of Agriculture admitted to H&H that Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) or swamp fever is or was spreading via biting insects, it stressed all cases can still be linked.

“What we do not have at the moment is an isolated case on its own — that would be much more concerning,” said Tom Myers, a superintendent veterinary inspector for the department. “I believe all the cases are linked to known sources — a couple might appear to be out of the loop but they are all linked.”

About 1,100 horses have been quarantined. Work is ongoing to establish the source of outbreak but it is believed to stem from plasma illegally imported from Italy. Mr Myers said exactly how many foals may have been treated with the plasma is unconfirmed.

Swamp fever was not known in Ireland before this summer, but Mr Myers said at least two horses died from an “unknown condition” before a mare died at Troytown Veterinary Hospital in Co Kildare on 14 June, and the disease was identified. Since then, 20 cases have been linked to Troytown or other studs which may have used the Italian plasma.

Four more cases, one a non-Thoroughbred confirmed last week, are not part of the surveillance programme, indicating that the plasma may have been used more widely.

“There has been evidence of transmission through biting insects. But it is only thought to have been the cause of infection where horses have been kept in close proximity, where one had been exposed to infection via another route,” said a spokesman for the department of agriculture. “Threat of transmission this way is decreasing as the weather gets colder.”

Troytown was reopened in August after sterilisation. The hospital’s partner Hugh Dillon said: “There has been and is no reason for panic, but there is no reason for complacency either. There have been record sales at Goffs, with many buyers from UK.”

The World Organisation for Animal Health last week confirmed an outbreak of swamp fever in Germany — the first in four years — where 10 horses have died and another 34 have been identified with the disease or at high risk of infection.

The cases, and the strain of swamp fever introduced in Ireland from the Italian plasma, are reportedly traceable to Eastern Europe.

“People must remember that swamp fever is endemic in Eastern Europe and with the movement of horses in Europe, they have to be extremely vigilant,” said Mr Dillon.

The estimated cost of the outbreak in Ireland is still unknown. The government is paying for testing for restricted animals, plus a contribution to vets call-out fees. All horses entering any sale in Ireland must produce a negative Coggins test [the definitive test for the disease].

No cases of swamp fever have been found in mainland UK to date. While all racehorses from Ireland must produce a negative Coggins test to run in the UK, a DEFRA spokesman said there were no plans to introduce routine Coggins testing for all horses coming from Ireland to the UK.

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The Dublin Horse Show (9 – 13 August) starts today, unperturbed by the threat from “Swamp Fever” or Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA). A total of fourteen horses have been diagnosed with the fatal virus, but officials are determined Ireland’s biggest equestrian will not be effected. The competition first took place in 1868 and has become an important showcase of the best Irish bred horses as well as developing a market place for them. Cancelling the event would have been devastating for Irish equestrianism: tens of thousands of people attend from all over the world, enjoying international Super League show jumping and top class showing.

Ireland’s Department of Agriculture and Food (DAF) made the following statement about the show: “In view of the comprehensive tracing undertaken, and the Department’s rigorous approach to restricting and testing horses on a risk assessed basis, as well as its very close working arrangement with the Royal Dublin Society, we see no reason why any international competitors should be discouraged from attending and participating at the Dublin Horse Show.”

However, show participants are advised to exercise the highest levels of biosecurity and domestic horses will be kept separated from international horses. “In view of the international importance of the Dublin Horse Show, the showcase event of its kind in this country, the Department is collaborating very closely with the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) to ensure that no horses under restriction or from restricted premises will be allowed to enter the show,” the statement continues.

The DAF also seems to be satisfied that all fourteen outbreaks can be traced to one source – a mare who contracted the disease from mainland Europe in June. “While there are a small number of that category of ‘high-risk’ horses still alive, the Department is satisfied that they have all been traced and both they and the premises on which they are located are subjected to movement restrictions, with no movement of horses allowed onto or from such premises for ninety days,” it said. All blood samples taken on these horses have so far been negative, but movement restrictions will continue until the 90 day period has ended.

Swamp fever, so called because it often occurs in low-lying swamp areas, causes intermittent fever, anaemia, emaciation and even death in horses. It can be transmitted by mechanical transfer of blood by biting insects or infected needles. The recent cases are the first ever recorded in Ireland and are thought to have originated from infected equine blood plasma. The virus poses no risk to humans.

Mainland Britain has placed its own restriction on horses entering from Ireland. From 14 August, Irish racehorses entering mainland Britain will have to test negative for the disease before they are allowed in. Likewise British-based horses travelling to Ireland cannot return until a negative test result is shown.

Dr Peter Webbon, the Chief Executive of the Horseracing Regulatory Authority said: “I have held industry-wide discussions over the past week, and whilst the risk of the spread of the disease within Ireland and over to Great Britain is low, we feel we need to introduce a requirement for testing both to safeguard the British racehorse population and to create a database of movements to which we can refer if the situation in Ireland deteriorates.”

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What is swamp fever?

Read about January 2010 swamp fever outbreak

Britain has 24 horses in isolation and is closely monitoring the outbreak of “swamp fever” in Ireland that is threatening disaster for the Irish horse industry.

“It is fast moving. We’re having daily meetings here and updates from Ireland,” said DEFRA official Paul Manser.

Swamp fever, or Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA), is a highly contagious viral disease of horses and often fatal. It has not yet been identified in Britain, and is mainly found in America. But on 15 June two horses contracted the disease in Co Meath, 30 miles from Dublin. Six weeks later, 14 more cases have been diagnosed in Ireland, 280 horses are in isolation and 13 yards have been closed.

A spokesman for Ireland’s department for agriculture told H&H the 14 horses that have been slaughtered were in direct contact with the two June cases.

“The problem is that tests for EIA only work after it’s developed to a certain level,” said Chris House, information officer for the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA).

“We have no plans to restrict movement of horses between Britain and Ireland at this time and will keep testing the [24] horses we have in isolation until we’re satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that they don’t pose any threat,” said a DEFRA spokesman. “We will be issuing guidance for the industry later this week.”

But officials agreed if more cases are confirmed, the cancellation of major equestrian events such as the Dublin Show (scheduled from 9-13 August) might be necessary.

“The word ‘timebomb’ is emotive, but yes, to say the situation is under control is speculation at this stage — and in Ireland the problem is certainly likely to get bigger,” said Mr House. “I’ll be much happier in a month — an outbreak here would have terrible consequences.”

He advised owners to contact their vets if they suspect anything unusual, adding: “If your horse has been in contact with one recently imported from Ireland I would be very careful.”

Swamp fever facts

• Swamp fever or Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) affects the immune system. Signs can include haemorrhages, intermittent fever, swelling of head and legs and anaemia. It causes organ failure and death
• It is spread via blood — usually by biting insects. It is known as swamp fever since it is virulent in low-lying, marshy areas that are breeding grounds for horse flies and mosquitoes (right)
• EIA is endemic in parts of the US and Australia, and although it has been found in France, Austria, Italy and Greece, it has never before reached Britain or Ireland. During an outbreak in France last year, infected horses were slaughtered and contacts isolated for six months
• Because horses in the UK have never been exposed to EIA, they are highly susceptible to the disease. Horses can recover but often become carriers for life — so if they contract EIA they will either die or be put down
• There is a test for the disease, but it will only work after an incubation period of at least 30 and up to 90 days
• Unlike equine flu, swamp fever has not been known to mutate and infect other species
• If you have any concerns, contact your vet immediately
• For updates and more information, visit www.defra.gov.uk and www.beva.org.uk
• Read this news report in full in today’s issue of Horse & Hound (3 August, ’06)

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