Information Exchange on Infectious Equine Diseases Globally
What is the International Collating Centre for the Surveillance of Equine Infectious Disease?*
Equine disease outbreak information, from around the world, has been obtained and collated by the International Collating Centre (ICC) for over 30 years and is generously supported by the International Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association with additional support generously received from Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), Japan Racing Authority (JRA) and Lanwades Stud. National and international equine disease outbreaks are reported on an almost daily basis, through e-mail alerts sent to subscribers. (To sign up for reports, contact us). A quarterly summary report is also produced and emailed to subscribers four times a year and available in the resources and archive section of this site.
How do they obtain their outbreak or disease information?**
Outbreak information is obtained from multiple sources and these mainly include country based infectious disease reporting systems, such as the USA’s Equine Disease Communication Centre (EDCC) and France’s Réseau D’épidémio-Surveillance En Pathologie Équine (RESPE). Reported outbreaks are predominately made up of at least one case that has had the diagnosis confirmed through laboratory testing. Outbreaks may be reported to the disease reporting sources by the testing diagnostic laboratory or by vets voluntarily reporting outbreaks.
What relevance does this bear for the New Zealand Equine Industry?
As we are constantly importing and exporting horses to and from New Zealand, often to countries that have endemic diseases we are free of, it is key to understand what is happening on a global level as far as equine disease is concerned.
Recently a key concern has been the discovery of Japanese Encephalitis in Australia, a severe neurological disease that has the ability to infect both horses and humans. So far the cases have only been reported in other species but we now know that the first case in an equine has been confirmed.
New Zealand is fortunate to be able to have the ICC as an additional resource to ensure we have our finger on the pulse with equine disease as it is occurring globally. For updates or to find out more visit the official website below.