Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) found in horses

Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) has been detected in two horses in Wiltshire following importation from Romania via Belgium, Defra confirmed today.

The premises is currently under restriction and the two infected horses will be humanely destroyed in line with existing regulations. The other horses on the premises will be subject to epidemiological investigation in the coming weeks. A further two horses have also been under investigation and test results have proved negative.

The animals arrived in a group of 10 horses, nine of which originated from Romania and one from Belgium. The nine Romanian horses were tested for EIA as part of routine post-import testing. Seven horses all tested negative. The horse that originated in Belgium is due to be tested shortly.

Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens said:

“This is the first case of equine infectious anaemia infected animals being imported into Great Britain since 1976 and shows the success of our post import testing regime. These were apparently healthy horses carrying a notifiable disease that we are keen to keep out of Great Britain.

"After considering the risk I have decided to take appropriate action and humanely destroy these two horses that tested positive.”

Update 21 January 2010:
Movement of horses to other EU Member States can continue as normal. Exports of horses to Third countries can continue subject to meeting the requirements of the export health certificate of the destination country. A number export health certificates for certain Third countries contain conditions regarding country freedom of EIA which cannot be fulfilled at present. These are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Grenada, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Tunisia.

We have worked with the authorities in the USA to ensure that exports to the USA can take place, so long as EIA was not identified on the premises of origin, nor on any adjoining premises, during the 60 days preceding export of the horse to the USA. Urgent exports to the USA have proceeded with manual amendments whilst the certificates are being permanently amended so they can be used as normal shortly.

22 January 2010