‘Armageddon’ disease could WIPE OUT hundreds of British horses – deadly warning issued

The midge which spreads African Horse Sickness (AHS) is already in the UK and there have been recent outbreaks of bluetongue – which is related to the AHS virus – in sheep. And experts fear rising temperatures and lack of biosecurity measures by importers could allow the disease to move northwards to the UK. World Horse Welfare Chief Executive, Roly Owers, told The Sunday Telegraph: “Exotic disease does present a real risk for the UK’s horse population, and African Horse Sickness (AHS) is certainly the ‘Armageddon’ of diseases due to its extremely high fatality rate plus the fact there is currently no effective vaccine. Early results from a survey undertaken by the Equine Disease Coalition show many horse owners have not been undertaking even the most basic biosecurity measures including isolation for new imports, Mr Owens added. Over the last 50 years, outbreaks of AHS outside of Africa have occurred in the Middle East, India, Pakistan, Spain and Portugal. Although there has not been an outbreak in Europe since 1990 in Spain, AHS forms part of the police’s Exotic Animal Disease guidelines which also includes swine fever, west nile virus, bird flu and foot-and-mouth disease. Defra currently views the current risk of AHS reaching the UK as very low as horses exported from Africa are subjected to stringent testing and a lengthy quarantine process The UK also has a specific regulation and control strategy for AHS should an outbreak occur. However, the British Horse Society (BHS) has warned owners to be on the look out for the virus. A BHS guidance said: “With climate change and an increase in the international movement of horses there is a possibility that AHS could reach Britain, although the risk is not presently considered to be high. “However, were AHS to arrive on these shores it is imperative that it is spotted quickly in order that it can be dealt with rapidly and prevented from spreading. “It is possible that an AHS outbreak could occur in the UK if the virus were to be imported and, given the severe welfare and economic consequences of AHS, this would have devastating consequences to the naïve UK equine population.” Gail Sprake, Chair of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust said: “Many of Britain’s rare horse breeds are already in danger of dying out, and there is now the added threat of diseases like African Horse Sickness. “These are worrying times for all British horses.” The Equine Disease Coalition, which was established in 2011, is currently working towards an improved vaccine. By NICOLE STINSON