Equine Disease Surveillance

The Authority, as part of its scanning surveillance to detect new and re-emerging animal disease threats (NRT) that could impact on our livestock and equine sectors and public health, has a requirement for regular intelligence on diseases prevalent in the British equine population.

Government is required for trade purposes both within the European Union and with 3rd Countries to provide evidence of freedom from some specific diseases. Data collected through scanning surveillance contributes to this guarantee. In addition, it is recognised that early detection of threats which meet Government criteria for intervention enables characterization, assessment and appropriate action to be taken early and thereby reduce the possible impacts.

As part of the UK Government's commitment to enhance veterinary surveillance, described in its Animal Health and Welfare Strategy (AHWS) document published in 2003, the Authority extended the set of species- specific quarterly surveillance reports to include horses and donkeys. Within its delivery agency Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA), the Authority does not routinely obtain diagnostic expertise and data on equine disease in the field.

In contrast to livestock, much of the equine expertise sits outside government and equidae are served by a diverse and potentially disconnected network of private and specialist equine veterinary practice based laboratories, with specialist interest in a few specific endemic diseases based within particular research groups at universities or research institutes. Therefore, a Supplier is required to provide this intelligence.