Government probes swamp fever outbreak

THE Department of Agriculture and Food is investigating the source of a serum suspected of causing the country’s first ever outbreak of swamp fever in horses.

Criminal court proceedings could follow if the department’s special investigation unit (SIU), which has been ordered by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan to conduct the probe, finds any evidence of serious wrongdoing.

Ms Coughlan, speaking with reporters at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show yesterday, warned the law will be rigorously applied if evidence of such wrongdoing is found by the SIU, which has a vast range of investigative powers.

Some 700 horses and 18 premises are now restricted by the department, as part of its efforts to prevent the spread of equine infectious anaemia (EIA). The disease could threaten the country’s multi-billion euro bloodstock industry, which has 100,000 horses.

Fifteen cases of the disease have been confirmed in thoroughbreds here since June, and 3,000 tests have been carried out for the disease. The disease can be fatal in horses but has no implications for human health.

Asked if she was satisfied that the disease was now under control, Ms Coughlan said: “In the professional veterinarian context, we are happy so far that it is contained within the initial spread of the disease.”

She announced a package of financial measures to assist owners whose horses are subject to movement restrictions and, consequently, are required to undergo a programme of tests for EIA.

She said the department will make a contribution of €50 for each visit by a veterinarian to take blood samples from horses that are subject to movement restrictions and will pay the Irish Equine Centre (IEC) the cost of analysing the sample.

The package would ease the burden on owners of horses required to undergo testing she said.

She acknowledged the cooperation of the veterinary profession and thanked the IEC for its professional commitment to ensuring that thousands of samples have been analysed expeditiously over the past two months.

RDS chief executive Michael Duffy said there was a lot of concern about swamp fever prior to the show but it had little effect on the event.

The organisers had worked closely with the

Department of Agriculture and Food and had fulfilled all its requirements, he said.

British racing authorities have, meanwhile, moved to protect their bloodstock industry from EIA.

Blood testing of all Irish- trained runners in Britain is being introduced for all races from August 14 onwards and similar requirements will apply to British horses travelling to Ireland.

British Horse Racing Authority chief executive Dr Peter Webbon said the risk of disease spreading within Ireland and over to Britain is low.