ATTENTION: Cases of EHV-1 notified in Lier and Oliva

Horse Sport Ireland has been notified of a case of Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1) in Lier, Belgium and four confirmed cases in Oliva, Spain.

In Lier, a horse presenting symptoms at the weekend was immediately isolated and following confirmation of EHV-1 at the start of the week, the horse concerned  and an additional 25 horses deemed to be in-contact were blocked from the FEI database.

In Oliva, the horses concerned were among ten horses stabled in the same stable block that developed fever. They were immediately isolated and tested, with four returning a positive test for EHV-1. There have been no reports of any neurological signs in these horses.

All the precautionary measures to minimise the risk of transmission have been swiftly applied, and ALL the horses attending Oliva from 7 February to 22 February – close to 1,000 horses – have been blocked in the FEI database.

This includes any horses that may have already left Oliva to compete at other FEI events. All the persons responsible and their national federations have been notified.

Horse Sport Ireland urges everyone to be extra vigilant and pay particular attention to any symptoms they may think could result in a case of EHV-1.

Although this disease can be easily transmitted, the FEI have recommended biosecurity measures to be taken in order to prevent transmission of EHV-1, and more information on the disease can also be found HERE.