JOINT BHB / HRA PRESS RELEASE – EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANAEMIA (SWAMP FEVER)
Published: Tuesday 01 Aug 2006
Further to recent diagnoses of Equine Infectious Anaemia, the HRA and BHB have devised a protocol whereby runners from Ireland will have to have a negative Coggins test prior to being allowed to race in Britain. British-trained horses that have been to Ireland will also have to produce a negative test on their return. There will be no blanket ban on runners from Ireland at present. The protocol, published in Thursday’s Racing Calendar, is detailed below and will be administered via Weatherbys.
Dr Peter Webbon, the HRA’s Chief Executive said:
“I have held industry-wide discussions over the past week with DEFRA, the British Equine Veterinary Association, the Irish Racing Authorities, the Animal Health Trust and stakeholders in racing over here. Whilst the risk of the spread of the disease within Ireland and over to Great Britain is low, we feel we need to introduce a requirement for testing both to safeguard the British racehorse population and to create a database of movements to which we can refer if the situation in Ireland deteriorates.
“Like DEFRA we are keeping the situation under constant review and further measures could be taken as and when the need arises.”
PROTOCOL
As a result of the diagnosis of Equine Infectious Anaemia in horses in Ireland, the following restrictions will apply with effect from racing on Monday, 14th August, 2006 (ie declarations from Saturday, 12th August and entries from Tuesday, 8th August) and until further notice:
1. When a horse, trained in Ireland (including Northern Ireland), has been entered to run in a race in Great Britain, it cannot be declared to run unless Weatherbys have received (by fax or electronic transmission) a copy of a Veterinary Declaration in Respect of Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA1) form. Blank EIA1 Forms may be downloaded from Thursday 3rd August from the BHB’s Racing Administration website www.racingadmin.co.uk or from the Horseracing Regulatory Authority website www.thehra.org, or obtained from Weatherbys (0044 (0) 1933 440077). This Declaration will confirm that:
a. The horse has shown no clinical signs of contagious or infectious disease in the 28 days preceding the race
b. The horse has not been within 200 metres of any premises or horses subject to movement restrictions to control the spread of Equine Infectious Anaemia within the 90 days preceding the race, and
c. A negative Coggins test result has been obtained no more than 14 days before the race.
2. The horse must be accompanied at all times that it is on racecourse premises by the original EIA1 form and Coggins test result.
3. When a horse in training in Britain has travelled to Ireland (including Northern Ireland), on its return to Britain the result of a negative Coggins test on blood collected between 90 and 120 days after its return must be submitted to Weatherbys. No further entries will be accepted and the horse will not be allowed to run if the test result has not been received 120 days after the horse’s return.
The Horseracing Regulatory Authority will continue to monitor the situation in Ireland and, in the event of any further deterioration, may introduce further measures, as appropriate. These may include, for example, conditions to apply to horses entering training in Great Britain from Ireland.
ADVICE TO TRAINERS
If a horse trained in Great Britain races in Ireland, the trainer should take the horse directly to the racecourse stables and return to Great Britain as soon as possible after the race.
When a horse trained in Great Britain travels to Ireland (including Northern Ireland) and then returns to Great Britain, the trainer must, within 48 hours of its return, notify Weatherbys of the dates of travel (see Temporary Instruction, below).
TEMPORARY INSTRUCTION
SPECIAL DECLARATION OF RACEHORSE MOVEMENTS BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
Until further notice, trainers are required to notify Weatherbys of the dates of travel to and return from Ireland (including Northern Ireland), of any horse in their care.
Notification should be made on Form EIA2, which may be downloaded from 3rd August from the BHB’s Racing Administration website www.racingadmin.co.uk or from the Horseracing Regulatory Authority website www.thehra.org or obtained from Weatherbys (telephone 0044 (0) 1933 440077).
1st August 2006
Notes for Editors:
1. A statement issued jointly by DEFRA and the British Equine Veterinary Association can be found at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/statements/060801.htm
