Vigilance urged after horses die in French equine herpes outbreak

There have been equine deaths recorded after an outbreak of equine herpes virus (EHV-1) in France, the FEI has confirmed.

H&H reported this week that British Equestrian had urged house owners of horses who had been in or travelled by way of France to be vigilant as an outbreak of the neurological type of the virus had been reported.

At present (22 November) the FEI veterinary division introduced an “essential replace on the state of affairs”.

“The outbreak is linked to a nationwide occasion that happened in Le Mans on 1–3 November 2024 and as of 20 November, has resulted in fatalities, and circumstances in three completely different French departments,” an FEI spokesperson mentioned.

There was an FEI occasion on the similar venue per week later (8-11 November).

“The FEI horses have been housed in several stables to the horses competing within the nationwide occasion and there have been no direct contacts between the nationwide and FEI horses at Le Mans,” the spokesperson mentioned.

“EHV-1 is an airborne illness that may be transmitted as much as 5 metres through coughing, but in addition by way of direct contact, through folks and shared tools. It may possibly trigger respiratory and neurological indicators, abortion in pregnant mares and loss of life of younger foals.

“Nonetheless, as this illness is definitely transmitted, contact between horses have to be saved to absolutely the minimal and we due to this fact strongly suggest that you shouldn’t take part in any coaching occasions, breeding actions and many others together with your horses.”

H&H has requested the FEI to make clear which horses are being referred to within the above assertion and is awaiting a reply.

The spokesperson added: “In response to the outbreak, we request that our group stays vigilant and displays the well being of their horses rigorously, for medical indicators of infectious illness. Additional info referring to EHV-1 might be discovered on the EHV-1 hub.”

The FEI has introduced in a raft of additional biosecurity measures since a severe EHV outbreak in 2021 introduced horse sport to a halt in mainland Europe.

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H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Obsessed with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all facets of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of alternative is showjumping, through which she competes her personal horses, and she or he additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping exhibits by way of to worldwide championships.