Mixing of unvaccinated horses and no mandatory vaccination requirements at some events were among the main reasons for outbreaks of equine flu in the UK.
This was the conclusion of a meeting of experts, who also highlighted poor application of biosecurity, new arrivals not being quarantined and the clinical signs not being caught early enough as significant factors.
Guidelines
Delegates at the round table meeting, hosted by UK Vet and supported by MSD Animal Health, heard some 192 confirmed outbreaks of equine flu have been recorded in the country this year.
The discussion included seven equine experts, from organisations including the AHT, Rossdales Equine Hospital, Valley Equine Hospital and Rainbow Equine Hospital.
The aim was to produce a document that would assist practising equine vets in understanding how to minimise the risk of equine flu infection and better manage future disease outbreaks.
Vaccination paradox
Philip Ivens, European veterinary specialist in equine internal medicine at Buckingham Equine Vets, said: “The vaccination paradox is an issue currently faced in many areas of preventive health care.
“Vaccination has been so successful over the years in reducing disease – and death from disease – that a lack of visibility is leading to false levels of reassurance. The result is low vaccination rates, the results of which were clearly seen this year with the rise in the number of outbreaks of equine flu that occurred.”
Disease management
Multiple reasons for non-vaccination were discussed, including owner apathy, an anti-vaccination stance, the cost of vaccinating multiple horses and low incomes.
The outputs from the meeting will include a range of disease management guidelines and will be finalised by UK VET Equine – in the form of a published, consensus article of practical recommendations – and made available via the journal’s online platform.
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