Be Prepared - But Don't Panic about AHS
Owners' "Fears are Unfounded"
Fears that horses in contact with a confirmed case of African Horse Sickness would have to be destroyed are prompting many owners to phone The Horse Trust in distress.“But their fears are unfounded,” says Paul Jepson, resident veterinary surgeon and director of the Trust which is leading the campaign to ensure that the UK is as prepared as possible to deal with any out break of the disease.
“Confirmed cases do have to be destroyed – and in any case would probably merit destruction on humane grounds before a very unpleasant and almost inevitable death,” he added. “But animals close to an outbreak would be subject only to close scrutiny, possibly vaccination and a ban on all horse movements in an area within 100 kilometres radius of the outbreak.”
Mr Jepson stressed that it is essential that suspect cases are reported and investigated.
“Failure to do this could allow an outbreak to spread out of control and jeopardise every horse in the country,” he said. “The safety of all our horses relies on the vigilance and good sense of the horse-loving public.”
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