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The UK’s leading equine health & well-being magazine
December 09/January 10 £2.95
New measures in place should AHS reach UK By Louise Cordell DRACONIAN new measures are to be introduced to prevent the spread of African Horse Sickness should it ever reach the UK. Recommendations giving the government the power to do whatever is deemed necessary – including compulsory slaughtering – have been put forward by the AHS Working Group. The group is finalising a series of documents for consultation, looking into what would happen if the disease, which is currently largely confined to Africa, should spread to Britain. These include an impact statement investigating the effect an outbreak would have on the UK’s £7bn a year equine industry, draft regulations that will go before Parliament in April and a working document detailing practical solutions. Paul Jepson, chief executive and veterinary director of The Horse Trust, who chairs the group said: “If an outbreak occurs, it has the potential to be devastating for a long period of time. The impact statement makes quite horrendous reading as it is dealing with the worst case scenario of the disease becoming endemic. “Because of this the Regulations are pretty draconian in that they recommend the government is given the power to do whatever they deem necessary to prevent
its spread, including the compulsory slaughtering of horses. “However, this would only be likely in the initial stages, as once the disease started to spread it would no longer be an effective tactic. If it spreads far beyond the initial infection then we will have a real problem – but it is not one that will be solved by a widespread slaughter programme.” To avoid this the Group is supporting vaccination as the preferred method of prevention. However, currently this is not a viable option as, Paul says, the only vaccine available is “not particularly safe or effective”. Its use would also mean that the UK would lose its AHS free status forever, because it is impossible to tell the difference between a horse that has been infected with the disease and one that has been vaccinated. Paul added: “The available vaccine is not good – a stockpile has been funded by the EU, but using it would be a last resort. “So the focus is on the further development and distribution of a better vaccine. We know that it can be done, but translating that into production is another matter and we are looking into ways of fast tracking this, because if the threat level increases it will be urgently needed.” The consultation documents will soon be available at: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/index.htm
A student from the Royal Veterinary College has swept the prize board this autumn with her research into the 3D anatomy of the cervical articular process joint in the horse. Holly Claridge has won this year’s Royal Agricultural Society of England’s ‘Eqvalan Duo Equine Thesis of the Year Award’ and the first ever Equine Connect Scholarship.
She said: “It is so rewarding to be recognised for my research. My aim was explore this often overlooked area in more detail, describing the anatomy of the APJ in relation to the spinal cord and the potential for APJ effusion to cause spinal cord compressive disease.” Full story, Page 22