Combat the spread of equine disease

In light of reports of outbreaks of widespread respiratory disease in some countries in West Africa (and applicable beyond), ICWE has prepared some resources on biosecurity measures. These resources may be downloaded for use by any organisations or individuals working with working equids where they are concerned about the potential spread of infectious diseases.

These resources have not been prepared for a specific disease and as such the information is on general biosecurity precautions. Where a diagnosis had been made there may be other measures appropriate for reducing the spread of a disease and these should be followed in addition to or instead of the advice below.

We also appreciate that the measures suggested below can be difficult to instigate in many situations. Where working animals are an important part of people’s livelihoods they continue to need to work, travel and meet at some points. Following the advice below and adapting it in the most practical way possible in the local context e.g. by carrying a water bucket rather than allowing donkeys to drink directly from troughs, will still have some positive biosecurity effects.

By highlighting key principles of disease to owners and users of animals and encouraging discussion of how they could implement some of these measures most simply in their day-to-day routines ICWE hopes that the spread of the current outbreak may be reduced.