last updated on August 04, 2006 01:00

Following an outbreak of Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) in the Republic of Ireland guidance is being issued to the UK horse industry.

The British Equestrian Federation has been advised that there will be no need to interrupt the competition programme at this time.

Although the risk of spread to Great Britain is low the situation is being closely monitored; officials from The British Equestrian Veterinary Association (BEVA), The Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Veterinary experts, including John McEwen (BEF Director of Equine Sport Science and Medicine) have been following the situation very carefully.

There have been no cases of the disease in the UK but action has been taken to restrict the movement of 25 horses from 8 different premises in England. All of these horses gave negative results to a Coggins test.

These horses will continue to be observed but the current advice from experts is that there should be no interruption to any competition programmes at this stage and the British Show Jumping Team are expected to travel to the Samsung Super League competition in Dublin as planned.

BEVA and DEFRA will continue to monitor all implications associated with the disease and will publish all relevant information on their websites – www.defra.gov.uk and www.beva.org.uk. Information and links to both of these sites can also be found on the British Equestrian Federation website – www.bef.co.uk.