swamp fever in uk

I had no idea we'd had any cased of swamp fever in the UK! Very frightening if that is the case. And if true we should do whatever it takes to protect all the equines already here.
 
From HHO, 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 midges — 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.


For more information on EIA, visit Defra's website he
 
Thank goodness it is winter!

However still midges around. I personally think import rules are far to relaxed, and in answer to your question anyone yes definatly!

Do people realise it is our horses that may have to be pts , as a result!!
 
Absolutely! Then again, I think the import of meat from countries endemic for FMD should also be banned.

I note on the DEFRA site we've had all export licenses suspended, but no mention of import restrictions of a revoking of the tripartate agreement!
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...PTS without compensation. So not only do we lose our beloved companions we lose out financially, some more than others due to the high value placed on some horses.

I believe our standard insurance policies will not cover euthanasia for a notifiable disease.
 
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Seems to be very risky with the apparent relaxed Euorpean rules.
Didn't realise Romania was very horsey

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Rumena isnt a horsey country. Rumania is practically a third world country and her horses arent kept for pleasure, they work or are sold for meat. What has been imported to GB would have been butchered. EIA is endemic in Rumania and the equines are banned from Italian soil apart from special circumstances-competition or breeding stock. The latter have to have current COGGINS TEST docs which result negative. Rumanian equines can be and are imported into Italy when they are destined for immediate slaughter-Coggins is not required for slaughter.
 
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No Patches, but DEFRA do pay you £1.00 compensation for each horse destroyed......

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Woopie doo. I might be able to buy a bag of treats for my then non-existent horse!
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and this is the EXACT thing that was at the centre of the F.rescue "debates"...

bin end dealers bringing over animals that should be slaughtered in their country of origin..NOT imported to hear.

FGS, even Italy, the EU's major horse meat producing country has banned horses from Romania..

and we, the UK, an island, accepts them!!

Crazy.
 
Equines coming from Romania into the UK should have had a Coggins test amongst other things before being allowed entry.

When I brought my mare over from Turkey she wasn't even allowed to stop in Romania. She had to have tests with negative results for EIA, Glanders, AHS and something else I can't remember.
 
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No Patches, but DEFRA do pay you £1.00 compensation for each horse destroyed......

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Woopie doo. I might be able to buy a bag of treats for my then non-existent horse!
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[/ QUOTE ]Shocking, isnt it
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This is one of the very things "the banned subject" discussions tried to warn about...........
The words "head" and "brick wall" spring to mind here......
 
BHS Press release

BHS advises horse owners not to panic over outbreak of EIA in UK


The British Horse Society is urging horse owners not to panic after Equine Infectious Anaemia is detected in two horses in Wiltshire.



Defra has confirmed that Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA), otherwise known as Swamp Fever, was found in two horses imported from the continent. The infected animals, which arrived in a group of ten originating from Romania and Belgium, have been humanely destroyed.



EIA has not been imported into Great Britain since 1976, so the news will be a shock to the horse industry. However, the BHS is advising horse owners that there is no need to be overly concerned by this news.



Lee Hackett, Head of Welfare at the BHS, said: “Obviously any outbreak of an exotic disease is very worrying and this is news that we did not want to hear. However, there is no reason to panic and every reason to hope that these cases will form an isolated incident and be successfully contained. Defra have acted incredibly quickly and taken every possible precaution to ensure this outbreak is suppressed.

Furthermore, EIA is spread by biting insects rather than horse to horse contact, so the recent weather will have improved the chances of containment. Few biting insects will have survived the cold snap meaning that transmission of the disease to other horses is extremely unlikely
 
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BHS Press release

BHS advises horse owners not to panic over outbreak of EIA in UK


The British Horse Society is urging horse owners not to panic after Equine Infectious Anaemia is detected in two horses in Wiltshire.



Defra has confirmed that Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA), otherwise known as Swamp Fever, was found in two horses imported from the continent. The infected animals, which arrived in a group of ten originating from Romania and Belgium, have been humanely destroyed.



EIA has not been imported into Great Britain since 1976, so the news will be a shock to the horse industry. However, the BHS is advising horse owners that there is no need to be overly concerned by this news.



Lee Hackett, Head of Welfare at the BHS, said: “Obviously any outbreak of an exotic disease is very worrying and this is news that we did not want to hear. However, there is no reason to panic and every reason to hope that these cases will form an isolated incident and be successfully contained. Defra have acted incredibly quickly and taken every possible precaution to ensure this outbreak is suppressed.

Furthermore, EIA is spread by biting insects rather than horse to horse contact, so the recent weather will have improved the chances of containment. Few biting insects will have survived the cold snap meaning that transmission of the disease to other horses is extremely unlikely

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replace the name lee hackett with nick brown and horses for farm stock and we are immediately transported back to 2001...
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It might be winter now but whats to stop people bringing horses in again in summer, we will end up like Ireland, it only takes midges to bite an infected horse and we are buggered
 
I stepped out of my back door into a cloud of midges 2 days ago, plenty have survived the cold snap.


From my info on FMD they problem would have been a lot less if DEFRA had admitted it couldnt deal with testing the quantities needed and asked for help......... they eventually did but it was probably too late, hopefully lessons have been learnt.

Are horses only tested when they reach their final destination in this country re the post import testing? ie they have travelled from port to wiltshire with all the biting insects they then must come across? Can anyone explain to me why we are only post import not pre import testing? I think I knew from before but have forgotten.
 
i had midges in the entrance to the bottom barn yesterday.

i mucked out in just a t-shirt yesterday and today.
it was 10 degrees.

this "outbreak" is less than 40 minutes away.

DEFRA and all who sail in her are a waste of time.
 
Yup, absolutely shocking. There will be an outcry.

Why has it taken so long for these horses to get a confirmed diagnosis? I wonder how soon after import they were tested. Frightening to think they've been in the country for nigh on a month already. Wonder how many horses have come and gone in the mean time at that yard.

Not like we have movement records for horses, like we do other livestock.
 
I only hope that SENSIBLE action is taken quickly and rationally. For a start ban all imports from affected areas and test all imported horses from other locations at point of entry into the UK or, even, better at point of departure if the test results come through quickly enough.

I guess I'll be shot down for my next suggestion but I think all horse movements should be banned within a radius of the outbreak. DEFRA also need to track down all horses associated with the imported horses - ie those that came in on the same shipment and get them tested and isolated ASAP, and ban all horse movements in those areas too. Surely drastic action now will help stop this spread further.....

I'd welcome any action like this locally if it stopped further outbreaks and potential compulsory destruction of what are effectively my rather large pet.
 
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