Disease factsheet: Equine Infectious Anaemia - Ireland, Northern Ireland and Germany
Ireland - Current situation
The Republic of Ireland Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan T.D., confirmed that the last premises restrictions, imposed as a result of the 2006 outbreak of Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA), were lifted following the lapse of more than 90 days since the last of 28 cases was confirmed on 10 December 2006.
Further information is available on the Irish Department of Agriculture and Food’s website:
Ireland - Background
The authorities in Ireland announced on 15 June 2006 that they had found Equine Infectious Anaemia in horses on two stud farms. Some horses from those stud farms, which may have been exposed to the disease, had been sent to the UK. The State Veterinary Service acted quickly to ensure these horses were isolated and tested for the disease.
Further cases of Equine Infectious Anaemia were confirmed in Ireland. The authorities in Ireland informed Defra of further GB tracings which were located and restrictions put in place with sampling being undertaken. A total of 22 horses were placed under restrictions in England, Wales and Scotland. All testing of any horses resident in the UK had been negative.
Further information is available on the Irish Department of Agriculture and Food’s website.
Northern Ireland 2006
A single case of Equine Infectious Anaemia was confirmed in a foal on premises in Northern Ireland on 1 September 2006. The foal was humanely put down. This was the first case of EIA in the UK.
Germany 2006
Two outbreaks of EIA were reported in Thuringen-Land, by the German CVO, the first on 19th and the second on 26 September 2006. In the first, of 27 susceptible animals there were 4 cases involving one death and 8 destroyed. The second outbreak identified 2 susceptible animals, one case and one destroyed.
Control measures in Germany included stamping out, quarantine, movement control inside the country and screening.
These cases in Germany were not unusual for mainland Europe and were only of interest because of our general concern over EIA.
Page last modified:
August 28, 2008