The most recent case of swamp fever, or equine infectious anaemia, now appears to have links with a premises that earlier suffered an outbreak, the Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, said yesterday.
The 16th case was confirmed last Friday on a premises that initially did not seem to have links with earlier outbreaks.
"It's not definite yet, but there is a linkage to the previous disease outbreak," Ms Coughlan said. "It's unfortunate that we haven't brought this to finality but the incubation period for this disease is quite considerable."
It can take up to three weeks for horses to show clinical signs of the disease, which include intermittent fever, small haemorrhages in the mucous membranes and anaemia.
Ms Coughlan said there had been "huge co-operation" by horse-owners, and it was hoped that the disease was being brought under control.
"But it's quite obvious that we must remain on our guard and we will be vociferous in dealing with this issue," the Minister said.
She added that linkages had been identified between all the premises where outbreaks had occurred.
The most recent premises to suffer an outbreak has been quarantined and any horses that have been in contact with the premises have been included in the Department of Agriculture's surveillance programme.
