How owners can help
THOSE who care for horses should remain aware of the constant risk of equine infectious diseases and follow UK surveillance initiatives (see p26) to remain up-to-date and able to implement the best control and prevention measures, in consultation with their vet.
Follow the advice below to reduce your risk from infectious disease outbreaks, and ensure that any suspect infectious disease cases reach the surveillance reporting stage to contribute to the “bigger picture” of equine infectious disease surveillance. This will help to reduce current threat levels and optimise control and prevention measures to protect our horses.
ON THE YARD
HAVE a yard biosecurity plan that is pragmatic, feasible and relevant to your risk level, horse population and set-up.
Have a yard vaccination policy. All horses should be vaccinated against equine influenza and this should be effectively policed. Horses that had their last vaccination more than six months ago should have boosters.
Have a plan for new arrivals to include quarantine location, duration (at least two weeks) and clinical monitoring during quarantine (for nasal and eye discharge, lymph node enlargement, leaving of food, coughing and raised rectal temperature – it should be checked and recorded twice daily). New arrivals should be two weeks beyond their second dose of a primary course of equine influenza vaccine, or have received a booster dose within six months.
Have a protocol to spot signs of infectious disease quickly.
Consult your vet immediately to enable a fast and accurate diagnosis, and implement effective control measures to limit infectious disease spread.
Have a plan for managing sick horses. Establish where they can be isolated, how hygiene measures will be implemented – with separate dedicated equipment, muck heap and carers, clear signage and infectious disease control measures (hand washing and foot dips as a minimum) – and have thermometers to monitor the temperatures of all in-contact, at-risk horses.
AT COMPETITIONS
BEFOREHAND, ensure your horse is not showing signs of infectious disease and has not had contact with a confirmed or suspect case.
Competition organisers should have a complete, organised and quickly accessible record of contact details of all attending horses and owners, in case tracing is required after the event.
At the event, avoid all direct contact with other horses and indirect contact when possible. Ideally, competitors should take their own equipment, including water and buckets, and horses should not graze communal areas. Event organisers should provide hand sanitation stations and signage to encourage good biosecurity practices.
If using overnight stabling, monitor and record horses’ temperatures daily. One-way systems in stable yards should be in place to avoid horses having direct contact, and there should be good separation between horses. Stabling should be thoroughly and effectively cleaned between horses.
AFTER EVENTS
IDEALLY, quarantine horses returning from competitions and clinically monitor them closely for up to two weeks. Horses are at increased risk of acquiring an infectious disease while at an event and then spreading it to other animals on the premises.