Two horses in Britain found with equine infectious anaemia

Britain's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the disease, also known as swamp fever, has been detected in two horses in Wiltshire following importation from Romania through Belgium.

"The premises is currently under restriction and the two infected horses will be humanely destroyed in line with existing regulations," the department said.

Other horses on the premises will be subjected to ongoing testing in coming weeks. A further two horses have also been under investigation, with test results so far proving 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 the disease as part of routine post-import testing. Seven horses all tested negative. The horse that originated in Belgium is due to be tested shortly.

"This is the first case of equine infectious anaemia infected animals being imported into Great Britain since 1976," chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens said.

Their detection showed and the effectiveness of Britain's post-import testing regime, he said.

"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."

Equine Infectious Anaemia causes intermittent fever, anaemia, emaciation and death.

It can be transmitted by the exchange of blood by biting insects and occurs typically in low-lying swampy areas.

It can affect horses, mules and donkeys. The incubation period is variable, from a matter of days to a few months but generally one to three weeks. Antibodies usually develop 7-14 days after infection and last for life.

Defra said putting infected animals down may not only be for the welfare of infected horses, but to eliminate the risk to other horses in close proximity, given the risk of insect-borne spread.

Meanwhile, the British Horse Society says horse owners should not to panic over the cases.

It noted that EIA had not been imported into Great Britain since 1976, "so the news will be a shock to the horse industry".

However, it said there was no need for horse owners to be overly concerned.

Head of welfare Lee Hackett said: "Obviously, any outbreak of an exotic disease is very worrying and this is news that we did not want to hear.

"However, there is no reason to panic and every reason to hope that these cases will form an isolated incident and be successfully contained.

"Defra have acted incredibly quickly and taken every possible precaution to ensure this outbreak is suppressed."

Given that the disease is spread by biting insects rather than horse to horse contact, recent icy weather will have improved the chances of containment.

"Few biting insects will have survived the cold snap meaning that transmission of the disease to other horses is extremely unlikely."