The Department of Agriculture and Food has confirmed that a potentially fatal horse disease has been recorded in Ireland for the first time.
Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) has been found in a small number of horses in the Meath/Kildare area.
A Department spokesman said investigations were continuing to determine the extent of the infection which, in this case, is thought to have been caused by the use of infected serum in the treatment of another equine disease.
"The department is also tracing those horses which, in the past three months, have passed through those farms on which the infected animals were located," he said. "EIA is a virus disease of horses which can cause of range of symptoms, including death.
"In view of the potential for mortality and given the high movement of horses throughout the country over the past few months, the department is advising stud owners/managers and other horse owners to have their horses tested for any evidence of the presence of the disease.
"The general incubation period for the disease is one to three weeks."
The spokesman said the Department is particularly anxious that all reasonable steps be taken by horse owners to ensure that the department can continue to certify horses for export, where such certification is required.
"Owners of horses are advised to keep them away from areas in which there are likely to be large concentrations of horseflies, including wetlands and wooded areas, until such time as they have satisfied themselves that their horses are free of EIA," he added.
Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) or 'swamp fever' is a persistent viral infection of all equines. The disease is exclusively an animal health issue and cannot be transmitted to humans. The virus is usually transmitted through blood-sucking insects or through the use of blood contaminated instruments or needles.
Horses infected with EIA virus may take up to three weeks to show clinical signs of the disease, which include intermittent fever, small haemorrhages in the mucous membranes, anaemia, dependant swelling and death.