Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what further steps his Department plans to take to help tackle equine EHV1 infections.

The Government is aware of the outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) in Europe and is working closely with the equine sector to ensure owners are aware of the risks and are taking the necessary precautions to keep their animals safe.

Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) is not notifiable and isolation of sick animals is the best protection against infection. There is no public health risk.

Horse owners are advised to contact their private vet if they observe any respiratory illness, abortion or neurological signs in horses or ponies in their care or would like to discuss options for vaccination against the disease.

All horses imported into the UK are required to be certified as being fit to travel and not to have originated from premises where disease is known to be present. Any horses imported into the UK should be placed in isolation for at least 10 days before allowing them to mix with other equines.

Comprehensive industry advice and guidance on biosecurity and vaccination is available online and the Animal and Plant Health Agency international trade team is, on behalf of Defra, writing to anyone wishing to import any equine from Europe to remind them of this guidance and strongly recommend that it is followed.