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Blue Tongue - A sharpe reminder
for horseowners - BE VIGILENT!
The confirmed outbreak of Bluetongue disease in a cow on a farm in Suffolk is a sharp reminder
that African Horse Sickness could strike the UK at any time, warns The Horse Trust. The impact of
this disease on the £4 billion a year horse industry would be devastating.
It is significant that the outbreak is just over the North Sea from Belgium, where recent outbreaks
of Bluetongue have been reported, and very close to the cradle of the horse racing industry at Newmarket.
African Horse Sickness is the same virus family as Bluetongue and is transmitted by the same species of
biting midges. Paul Jepson, Chief Executive and Veterinary Director of The Horse Trust said, "At
the moment there is no evidence that African Horse Sickness exists anywhere in Europe and, although it
has the same potential as Bluetongue to reach the UK, there is no cause for panic."
African Horse Sickness is a much more dramatic disease than Bluetongue and infected horses are usually
severely ill with a very high mortality rate. All infected animals are required to be slaughtered to
limit spread of the disease.
The Horse Trust is working with Government and the horse industry to develop strategies for monitoring,
prevention and control of the disease. At the moment all horse owners and anyone connected with horses
can do is to recognise the possibility of African Horse Sickness reaching the UK and to report any
suspicious illness or death. The approach of winter should produce a reduction in the midge population
and potential spread of the disease.
It is hoped that a safe and effective vaccine will become available for use in controlling an outbreak
of African Horse Sickness in the future.
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