An additional case of equine infectious anaemia (EIA) on a premises currently restricted following confirmation of Ireland's first case of the disease was confirmed yesterday.
The horse which was confirmed yesterday with EIA, commonly known as swamp fever, is the dam of one of the foals that was confirmed with the disease thought to have been introduced here by contaminated medicine last month.
The Department of Agriculture is continuing to trace all horses which were in direct contact with any of the confirmed cases and has put in place an intensive testing regime to ensure that all direct contacts are tested for any evidence of the disease.
To date, in excess of 1,800 test results have been received. Yesterday's confirmed case was the only one to have tested positive.
EIA, which has not been found in Ireland before now, attacks the immune system and can be spread by horsefly or by contaminated medicine.
