Commentary: Biosecurity for Infectious Disease Control

Remember to employ good biosecurity practices to help prevent infectious disease spread.
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Preventing infectious diseases has often been perceived by horse owners as “which vaccines do I need this year?” While vaccines are an important part of an annual health care program, controlling and preventing diseases through management and disinfection has only come to the forefront in the past 20 years.

Veterinary and university hospitals, because they house sick animals along with healthy ones awaiting routine surgeries, have been at the fore­front of what is now routinely known as biosecurity. Large hospitals now often have an individual solely dedicated to infectious disease control.

The recent recognition of an equine herpesvirus variant causing neurologic disease and several large outbreaks spanning multiple states has horse owners really understanding the critical importance of biosecurity. The threat of “Was my horse exposed?” looms when a herpesvirus infected horse has been confirmed at a racetrack, horse event, or horse farm. Unfortunately, it sometimes takes a potentially deadly disease to get people’s attention.

So, as we approach the spring and summer with hours of riding and horse enjoyment, people need to be cognizant about not sharing equipment with others without disinfecting afterward; of washing their hands after handling other horses; of avoiding nose-to-nose contact of their horses with others; quarantining horses when they return to the farm; and other recommendations from the Lloyd’s Equine Disease Quarterly of July 2011. They do make a difference! As always, consult a veterinarian about an appropriate vaccination program and biosecurity recommendations for your particular circumstances

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