Some equine diseases trigger alerts in some states but aren’t reported at all in others, writes Leslie Barlow. She shares why disease reporting can be confusing including the alphabet soup of organizations involved in determining what to report or not. Barlow manages communications at the Equine Disease Communication Center.
Source: The Paulick Report, August 20, 2024. Link. A “reportable disease” is defined as having the potential for significant equine health and economic impact on the equids of the United States. The list of reportable diseases is based on international, national, and local diseases of concern.
INSIGHTS: The three core pillars of response are foundational to any infectious pathogen, reportable or not. They are:
1) Early identification of infected horses with health monitoring and diagnostic testing
2) Immediate isolation of horses suspected or confirmed with a reportable disease pathogen
3) Enhanced biosecurity to reduce bacteria or viruses in the environment and to prevent further transmission