Equine Viral Arteritis
An outbreak of Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) has been confirmed in northern France. The highly contagious disease is mainly spread through mares mating with infected stallions. Flu-like symptoms are common, but EVA is also known for causing pregnant mares to abort.
The French outbreak occurred in the Eure and Orne regions of Normandy last week. Movement restrictions have been put in place and horses in the affected area quarantined. In the UK, EVA is a notifiable disease. It is thought that four mares have been infected, but details remain sketchy.
Fritz Sluyter, head of the veterinary department at the International Equestrian Federation, said there was no need for alarm.
“A few premises have been involved after a stallion got sick and then, I believe, died. This is unusual for EVA but not a reason to panic,” he said. “We do get EVA occasionally in Europe and it is just a case of monitoring the situation.”
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
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
A Cambridge graduate and big racing fan, Karen joined H&H in 2006 first as deputy news editor, and rose to managing editor, via a stint as acting editor of our sister title, Horse. Alongside being vet page editor and running our annual Young Rider special issue, she oversaw our media agreements, round table features, reader panel and more. Karen left Horse & Hound in 2014.