“In the equine industry, true biosecurity is demanding to achieve because horses move around a lot, and many diseases are always present,” says Ontario Veterinary College infectious disease specialist Dr. Scott Weese. “However, it’s still significant to try to prevent diseases from entering and to have plans in place to manage any outbreaks.”
With regular horse movements, endemic pathogens and emerging diseases, there is a need for improved understanding and motivation to adopt better infection control practices.
Infection control begins in the barn and works best when the focus is pro-active rather than reactive. This includes having an access management plan, proper quarantine protocols for novel and returning horses, and training EVERYONE who comes on to the property or handles the horses.
Read more from Equine Guelph and the Equine Disease Communication Center.
