Equine Herpes EHV-1

[Christmas Crumpet]

Is herpes a notifiable disease?

Someone said that because it is a notifiable disease, all vets costs are paid by DEFRA or RCVS. I only ask this because I know two people at opposite ends of the country who have both had/have a horse affected by it and one person says she will get the vet bills paid because its a notifiable disease and the other person has been charged (horse in training) for all the vets bills. Just wondering who is right really!!

 

[BronsonNutter]

Well, it's not listed on DEFRA's notifiable diseases list here:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/notifiable/

Nor is it on the horse-specific list here:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/horses/

So I would imagine that DEFRA will not be paying the vets bills - I guess your other friend could ring them for advice however?

 

[justmemydear]

Towcester vets on fb have an article about it doesn't say you have to notify anyone x

 

[Birker2020]

No it is not in this country, although it is in Australia.

However if it is detected there is strict quarantine procedures that are put in place and animals routinely swabbed until the disease has gone.

I know this as my wobblers horse was an EHV shredder although did not actually develope the disease. He was ataxic through wobblers syndrome or CVM and NOT through EHV which is one of the major symptoms.

His eventual diagnosis of wobblers was delayed because they suspected EHV which meant he could not travel to a hospital for a definitive diagnosis due to the risk of other horses contracting the disease.