Disease factsheet: Equine Infectious Anaemia - Q&A
- What is Equine Infectious Anaemia?
- Is it notifiable?
- How is it transmitted?
- Is there any risk to humans?
- How widespread is this disease?
- How long does it take for the disease to become apparent?
- Are restrictions placed on suspected infected or exposed to infection horses?
- What are the EIA health requirements for moving horses between Member States of the European Union?
- What is Government doing to reduce the risk of EIA entering the UK?
- What happens if a horse is found to be affected with EIA?
- Could in contact animals be slaughtered?
- What legislation provides the powers to slaughter equines affected by EIA and when was it introduced?
- If my horse is slaughtered will I receive compensation?
- Under what legislation may EIA compensation be paid?
- What is the reason for setting the compensation level at £1?
- Does the new compensation legislation apply to horses affected with any other equine diseases?
What is Equine Infectious Anaemia?
Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) is an exotic viral disease that does not occur in Great Britain. Horses are most likely to become infected when travelling abroad to countries or areas of countries where the disease is endemic or from the use of biological products infected with the EIA virus. EIA is not transmissible to humans (zoonotic) but it is often fatal to horses. If the affected animal recovers it remains a lifelong carrier of the disease and would either need to be permanently kept in restricted accommodation for the rest of its life, or humanely destroyed.
Is it notifiable?
Yes. Defra must be notified of any suspicion of this disease.
How is it transmitted?
The virus is usually transmitted mechanically, most commonly through blood-sucking insects (Tababus or Stomoxys species) or through the use of contaminated blood or blood products, instruments or needles. Transmission of the disease may occur where there are large numbers of horseflies in proximity to acutely affected horses and occurs most often during periods of high insect activity, in low-lying swampy areas close to woodlands. Contaminated needles and blood products have also been implicated in the infection of horses, and transmission via colostrums or semen is uncommon. Pregnant mares may pass the disease to their foals in the womb.
Is there any risk to humans?
No.
How widespread is this disease?
EIA has a worldwide distribution. Early in the twentieth century serous outbreaks occurred in France, Japan and America. The disease has been reported in many parts of America, Asia (India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand), Europe (Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Romania, USSR, Yugoslavia) and Australia.
How long does it take for the disease to become apparent?
The incubation period is variable, from a matter of days to a few months but generally 1 to 3 weeks. Antibodies usually, but not always, develop 7 to 14 days after infection and last for life. Horses have been known to take several months before clinical signs or antibodies are apparent.
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Are restrictions placed on suspected infected or exposed to infection horses?
Yes, these are put in place in consultation with the owner and the owner’s private veterinary surgeon. Suspect horses are tested and placed in quarantine for a minimum of 60 days post exposure. This quarantine requires the separation of suspect horses from other horses use of vector control methods such as fly repellents, and insect proof barriers. Should this initial test prove negative, further testing is carried out over the course of this quarantine period. If further tests prove negative restrictions are removed. If further testing proves positive, the affected animal would be euthanased and further testing of at risk horses carried out to detect any disease spread.
What are the EIA health requirements for moving horses between Member States of the European Union?
In order to move between EU Member States, horses must originate from premises which are not subject to prohibition for animal health reasons must not have had contact with equidae from premises subject to prohibition. In the case of Equine Infectious Anaemia the prohibition period lasts until the date on which, after slaughter of the infected animals the remaining animals at the same premises have had two negative tests for Equine Infectious Anaemia carried out three months apart.
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What is Government doing to reduce the risk of EIA entering the UK?
(i) the animal health conditions governing the intra-Community trade and import from third countries of equidae are harmonised through the whole of the EU by the implementation of Directive 90/426/EEC. There is limited scope for the UK Government to adopt unilateral measures in relation to EIA;
(ii) On 3 May 2007, Council Decision 2007/269/EC on protective measure with regard to equine infectious anaemia in Romania came into force. It requires equidae, or ova and embryos of equidae originating from Romania to be subject to a Coggins test prior to export. On 14 September 2006, Defra published a qualitative risk assessment on equine infectious anaemia in Europe, "Equine Infectious Anaemia - Potential risk factors for the introduction of the virus to Great Britain from EU Member States and countries neighbouring the EU", which is available for download and has also been copied to the EU Commission for consideration;
(iii) under the scope of the Tripartite Agreement Defra keeps regular communications with the Irish Agricultural Department to monitor closely the EIA situation in Ireland. Following the recent EIA outbreak in Ireland, any horse moved from Ireland into the UK, which may present a high risk, has been traced back to the premises of destination and put under restriction until negative tests have eliminated the risk.
What happens if a horse is found to be affected with EIA?
If an animal does test positive, the only course of action is to humanely put it down. This may be for the welfare of the affected horse, but also to protect other horses from infection. Once infected, horses are infected for life and continue to pose a risk to other horses in close proximity. We have agreed with equine industry veterinary surgeons that destruction is the only policy. Many owners are likely to put the animal down once they know that their animal has EIA. Legislation was introduced in August to provide powers to slaughter horses affected with EIA. We would only invoke our powers to destroy the horse if an owner refused to co-operate. If the powers to slaughter need to be invoked, SVS will facilitate safe carcass removal and destruction.
Could in contact animals be slaughtered?
We will only cull animals that have tested positive with an appropriate test. With this disease, we are not culling animals on suspicion - each animal that has been traced as a contact with infected animals will be kept under restrictions and tested until we are satisfied that it is not affected by the disease. Restrictions will be lifted when a veterinary risk assessment advises that the risk is low.
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What legislation provides the powers to slaughter equines affected by EIA and when was it introduced?
The Specified Diseases (Notification and Slaughter) Order 2006 (SI 2006 No 2166) came into force on 29 August 2006 and amends the Specified Diseases (Notification and Slaughter) Order 1992 by adding EIA to the list of diseases under the Animal Health Act 1981 which may be slaughtered. Although the Compensation Order was not subject to public consultation the approach was explained to a range of equine industry representatives during the summer.
If my horse is slaughtered will I receive compensation?
If an animal is affected and poses a risk to the rest of the industry, it is effectively worthless - it has no market value because no-one will want to buy it if they know it has this disease. On this basis, Government is not offering compensation for animals that test positive for EIA because it would be unreasonable for the tax payer to pay compensation for more than the affected animal is worth. Horse owners take risks when they ship their horses to other countries for what ever purposes, and it their responsibility to take appropriate action to protect their own animals and their industry. It is also important that all equine businesses take responsibility for effective biosecurity measures being put in place at all times, particularly where horses are moved around frequently, both within and outside GB. This is important principle of joint responsibility for disease prevention and cost sharing is set out in the Animal Health & Welfare strategy.
Under what legislation may EIA compensation be paid?
The Equine Infectious Anaemia (Compensation) (England) Order 2006 made under the Animal Health Act 1981 will come into force on 6 November 2006 and will provide for a nominal amount of compensation set at £1.
What is the reason for setting the compensation level at £1?
Legal advice is that once legislation is made to provide slaughter powers, Government is obliged to officially set a level of compensation. If a horse is shown to be affected by EIA then the animal is considered to be of negligible value and thus in this case only a nominal sum is being offered by way of compensation.
Does the new compensation legislation apply to horses affected with any other equine diseases?
No. This compensation policy only currently applies for EIA, and for animals that are tested positive for the disease. It does not necessarily apply for other horse diseases, and we will be having discussions with the horse industry in the future.
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Page last modified:
August 28, 2008