Equine infectious anaemia case in France

Agriculture spokesman Dr Jean Luc Angot said it was a sub-clinical infection in a horse in Montcaret, Dordogne. The property is also home to 28 other horses being tested for the viral infection.

"The positive horse will be culled soon," he said in his report, dated March 10.

All horses at the property had been under surveillance since February 25, with the infection confirmed on March 3.

"An epidemiological investigation is being carried out to determine the source of the infection and identify the horses that have been in contact with the infected animal," Angot said.

Equine infectious anaemia, or swamp fever, 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.

Britain reported two cases of the disease in horses imported from mainland Europe in mid-January - the first cases in the country since 1976.

The animals were euthanized.

Testing of potentially exposed animals have so far detected no fresh cases. The risk was of spread considered low because winter conditions meant biting insects were unlikely to be present.