Equine Viral Arteritis DAFM Notice
Important update for all equine breeders regarding Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) (January 2024)
- Zoetis (vaccine manufacturers) announced the shortage of Equip Artervac vaccine will continue until autumn 2024 at the earliest, which may present an increase risk of Equine Arteritis Virus (EAV) incursion in Ireland
- As any disease outbreak would have significant negative consequences for the equine industry, appropriate precautionary measures must continue to be applied to help prevent virus introduction and spread
- All previously vaccinated stallions and teasers should submit serosurveillance blood samples for antibody monitoring purposes to the Virology Division, CVRL, Backweston Campus, Celbridge, Kildare W23 N9FA:
- for all previously vaccinated stallions and teasers who have already submitted pre-breeding samples to the CVRL, please continue to submit samples at six monthly intervals
- for any previously vaccinated stallions or teasers who have not already submitted pre-breeding samples to the CVRL, studs are strongly advised to urgently submit these as soon as practically possible from Tuesday Jan 2nd and thereafter at six monthly intervals.
- Any new stallions commencing breeding in 2024 should also submit blood samples to confirm their EVA negative status before they start breeding activity.
- Additionally all breeders are strongly encouraged to review and optimise their biosecurity and mare testing protocols on farm in advance of the 2024 breeding season in line with International Codes of Practice 2024
- Management of imported horses (mares and stallions) should be done in accordance with the advice provided in the International Codes of Practice. Although there are no EU requirements to test horses for EVA when moving between member states, to protect the Irish horse population a test should be requested before departing the country of origin.
- EVA is a NOTIFIABLE disease and as thus all suspicions of EVA should be reported directly to DAFM without delay. For information please see here.
