African Horse Sickness/Swamp Fever et al

Amaranta

Amaranta

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Am I the only one who is seriously worried about these insect born diseases?

It seems to me that the majority of horse owners think that Strangles is the worst thing we have to worry about, with the advent of Blue Tonque and Schmallemburg viruses in the UK (both carried by the same midge that carries AHS and SF) it is not an if but a when these diseases hit our shores.

Is anyone taking precautions to protect their horses?
 
Well I for one do not intend to worry about this until I am assured by my very trusted vet that there is actually anything to worry about.

We have so many thing that are REAL threats haven't we? Grass Sickness, Lammi, Sweet Itch, Strangles...the list is actually quite long. I do not intend to have sleepless nights over something that you happen to thing is almost 'imminent' - I do not.

I hope I am not proved wrong, but in the meantime I shall just worry about the here and now.:)
 
somethingorother said:
I am aware it exists and have seen what happens to infected horses previously. But do you have a point, any helpful advice on prevention, or are you just scaremongering?
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No I am not scaremongering, blue tongue is the same virus and it has already arrived in this country, my point is does anybody know how to take preventative measures? Has anybody cared enough to research prevention? Are people even aware that although there is a vaccination it is considered too dangerous to use in this country?

But no it it more important to discuss non existent cruelty in another country and the 'possible' identity of a 'possible troll' :rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
grumpyoldmare said:
Amaranta - may I ask did you make the video that is linked on this thread?
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No I didn't, I found it when I searched youtube, what I wanted was to show people the effects of AHS, this was the closest thing I could find.

However, whether I made the video (or not as it happens) is irrelevant.
 
Amaranta said:
No I didn't, I found it when I searched youtube, what I wanted was to show people the effects of AHS, this was the closest thing I could find.

However, whether I made the video (or not as it happens) is irrelevant.
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Well of course that is your opinion that is irrelevant, but my opinion is that it could well be. However, I am now even more confused and a little baffled at your apparent concern that this should be brought to all horse owner's attention? That we should be feeling hugely worried and concerned at an impending epidemic of this disease?

Please can you state more clearly on what basis you have arrived at this conclusion? If it is purely on this video, what prompted you to search for a video on this subject in the first place? Have you any other evidence that this is something we should all be discussing urgently with our vets?

I am sorry, but unless you can back up your concerns in a more coherent way you cannot possible expect to generate a sensible discussion on something that might or might not be relevant to UK horse owners.:confused:
 
Swamp Fever exists in America where I'm from. You get a yearly coggins to make sure horse doesn't have SF. If it does they are destroyed and the other herds close by need checked. Similar to the outbreak in Ireland a few years ago. My herd had to be tested by the way.

At any rate people have and raise horse's in the States. Some who live very long and healthy lives. It's not really a major scare. West Nile or Potomac horse fever, also mossie born, would be more of a worry and probably Lymes. Oh and EPM. So really swamp fever is low on worry.

There aren't really any precautions you can take. Some of the diseases back home have vaccines, but SF does not.

I do love how clueless my hubby was when our horses were tested a few years ago. He wanted to know what happened if we had a positive. When I told him the color drained from his face. Of course it was a stupid way of testing anyway. I was on a property that contained another herd. They were not tested that day or any day. Any places they went to test in which horses couldn't be caught weren't tested. So I mean not much of a thorough protocol.

Terri
 
mulledwhine said:
Ps in amarantas defence, it was a discussion on a TV programme this morning and has been in the national papers
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Ah right, that now makes sense. Have to confess I did think this was just a wind up thread, but now I can see where OP is coming from.

Sorry OP - hadn't heard or seen any media discussion on this so I shall withdraw now as I cant make a comment on something that I haven't had any recent information on.:)
 
grumpyoldmare said:
Well of course that is your opinion that is irrelevant, but my opinion is that it could well be. However, I am now even more confused and a little baffled at your apparent concern that this should be brought to all horse owner's attention? That we should be feeling hugely worried and concerned at an impending epidemic of this disease?

Please can you state more clearly on what basis you have arrived at this conclusion? If it is purely on this video, what prompted you to search for a video on this subject in the first place? Have you any other evidence that this is something we should all be discussing urgently with our vets?

I am sorry, but unless you can back up your concerns in a more coherent way you cannot possible expect to generate a sensible discussion on something that might or might not be relevant to UK horse owners.:confused:
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I am concerned because I have seen the devastation this disease (AHS) caused the horse population in Spain.

I am concerned because the very insect that carries this disease has arrived on our shores recently and has already infected sheep and cattle with Blue Tonque and Schmallenberg which is currently causing untold problems for sheep farmers in my area.

I am concerned because the general consensus within the veterinary profession is that it is a WHEN and not an IF this disease hits out shores and there is not an effective vaccination to fight it with. The vaccine is at present a live one and carries too many risks to be used legally within this country.

As for Swamp Fever, this actually did arrive in this country, we were lucky it was winter and the midges were not around, had it been high summer there would have been a real problem.

As an aside, should your horse be unlucky enough to contract these diseases they will be destroyed, you will have no say in the matter and will receive no compensation from the government OR your insurance company.

There ARE steps that can be taken to try to protect horses, effective fly control being the biggest (and possibly the only) weapon in our armoury at present.
 
grumpyoldmare said:
Ah right, that now makes sense. Have to confess I did think this was just a wind up thread, but now I can see where OP is coming from.

Sorry OP - hadn't heard or seen any media discussion on this so I shall withdraw now as I cant make a comment on something that I haven't had any recent information on.:)
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Believe me, if I was going to post a wind up thread, it would most certainly not be about AHS, especially in light of recent developments!

No the point of this thread was to make people aware and at least there is one more person (you) who is now informed, I accept your apology.
 
It will eventually get here but so far the diseases which have threatened uk species have not been those we have been expecting ( schmallenberg/blue tongue virus in uk and hendra in oz). None of those were on the predicted risk tables until just before they hit. Also the vaccine is too dangerous to use in a naive country but should there be an outbreak ( and the likeliness of something of it then becoming endemic) use of the vaccine would have to be reviewed. Until there is a positive case in northern Europe this country will not be on alert. student vets have been informed about the inevitable spread of the disease for quite a few years now.
 
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