Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) Update – 22 December 2006

The Department has now confirmed twenty-eight cases of Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA), the most recent on 10 December. The cases continue to be concentrated, with some exceptions, in the Meath/Kildare/Dublin area. All but three of the cases confirmed to date have been in thoroughbred horses.

The most recent case was confirmed in a horse which had been blood sampled as part of a targeted surveillance programme in Co Meath. This programme, involving the testing of over 4000 horses, is continuing in Counties Meath, Dublin and Kildare and it is expected to conclude by the end of January.

A thorough investigation is underway in relation to this latest case with a view to identifying the circumstances in which the horse contracted the disease and a number of possible options are being pursued.

The intervals between the most recent cases are considerable longer than they had been during the summer and autumn, with intervals of 27, 20 and 25 days, respectively, being recorded in the last three cases. It is now 12 days since the last case was confirmed.

Having imposed movement restrictions on 53 separate premises, the Department has now been able to derestrict 28 of those premises, after the horses on the premises had satisfactorily completed their testing programmes. The other premises will also have their restrictions lifted as soon as their horses have completed their respective testing programmes.

In addition to the premises restrictions, the Department imposed movement restrictions on over 1200 individual horses, the majority of them on their home premises where their owners were advised by the Department to ensure that they are isolated from contact with other horses.

Several hundred individual horse restrictions have now been lifted, following the satisfactory completion of the prescribed restriction period and having tested negative on any occasion sampled.

Between the Irish Equine Centre (IEC) and the Department’s Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL), some 31,000 blood samples have been tested for EIA, with just the twenty-eight cases confirmed to date.

The updated Common Code of Practice for the control of certain equine diseases in the 2007 breeding season has just been published, as part of which some 18,000 blood samples will be tested for EIA during the first quarter of the New Year. The Department endorses the strong recommendation from the ITBA regarding EIA and EVA testing during the forthcoming breeding season and considers it essential that all breeders comply strictly with the terms of the Code in all circumstances.

In addition to the measures being taken by the Department, any horse owner whose horse(s) shows any clinical symptoms suggestive of EIA should immediately contact their private veterinary practitioner and have arrangements made to have the horse sampled and the sample analysed for the disease.

The Department is satisfied, based on the significant epidemiological data gathered to date, that all cases to date can be associated back to events related directly or indirectly to the initial outbreak and that there are veterinary treatment linkages in a number of the cases.

In view of this apparent veterinary association in a number of cases, the Department is reiterating the advice, consistently given over the past five months, that veterinary practitioners should, at all times, observe the highest standards of hygiene and should ensure that, in all circumstances, contaminated veterinary instruments are either appropriately disposed of or thoroughly sterilised (autoclaved) before reuse. The Department is engaging with the profession to re-emphasise this advice.

The Department is continuing to progress its investigation into the circumstances in which the disease was first introduced into the country. This investigation is a comprehensive one and the Department will, in the event of sufficient evidence being established, endeavour to pursue a prosecution. Because of the nature of the investigation, the Department is not in a position to comment any further on its progress at this stage.

The Department is, as it has from the outset, treating this outbreak very seriously and is continuing to devote such resources as are considered necessary to contain and eradicate the disease. The Department appreciates the value and prestige of the Irish bloodstock industry and is continuing to work close with the various elements of the industry, including the breeding, racing, sports horse and sales sectors.

The Department is committed to ensuring that it communicates comprehensively and frequently with both the thoroughbred and non-thoroughbred sectors and the wider industry, including the veterinary profession, and appreciates the very high level of co-operation and assistance provided by all those involved in the Irish equine industry. To that end, the Department met with representatives of the thoroughbred and non-thoroughbred sectors and the veterinary profession - most recently on 7 November - and intends to continue that dialogue with a further similar meeting in January, at which the Department will further update the industry on any further developments.

Both the Department and the bloodstock industry are agreed there is no place for complacency in the efforts to contain and eradicate EIA from Ireland and that complete confidence in the Irish industry must be maintained.

The combination of testing approximately 18,000 EVA and certain diagnostic samples, along with the completion of the targeted surveillance programme, will significantly extend the Department’s surveillance net and provide further confidence to the Irish and international equine communities that this outbreak is being contained and good progress being made towards its eradication. The lengthening intervals between cases over the three months gives further comfort that the situation in stable and that the outbreak has been contained.

Ends.