For many, infectious diseases are not something you want to think about until you are faced with one firsthand. At the EDCC, we deal with them every day and know that when owners are armed with the needed information, the easier it can be to manage an infectious disease.
When dealing with something that is contagious, the spread of misinformation and rumors can be just as bad as an unattended or untreated disease. That is why we serve as the central source for infectious disease information for horses and want to arm owners, veterinarians and those who care for horses with the most up to date information about prevention, treatment and biosecurity. We know the best way to prevent and stop the spread of disease is for all of us to know how.
Since 2020, we are all too familiar with the spread of infectious disease. The last thing we want is for an outbreak to happen at your facility or horse show. The recent increase in equine herpesvirus neurologic disease in North America and Europe reminds us that herpesvirus (EHV-1) and other potentially deadly diseases remain a constant threat for horses. Our alert system and website offers owners pertinent disease fact sheets and biosecurity information to educate and increase awareness of diseases in your area.
Up until 2015, the equine community relied on multiple sources for infectious disease in their area. That sometimes-caused confusion and misinformation. ““The growth of the EDCC has been very rewarding. As we celebrate six years of serving the equine industry, we know more educational outreach on infectious diseases is needed” says Dr. Nathaniel White, director of the EDCC.
Since then, the EDCC has reported on more than 5,000 outbreaks many of which involved multiple horses. In 2021 alone, we’ve posted 245 alerts reporting on 328 horses. It is our belief that owners, veterinarians and the equine community should have resources at their fingertips to make infectious disease a little less scary, but we can’t do it without your help.
Many may not know that the EDCC is funded entirely by owners, horse organizations and allied companies within the equine industry. Donations are needed annually to continue to keep horses healthy from infectious disease. With your vital support, we can continue to be the universal source to help stop unnecessary spread of infectious diseases.
To donate go to our support page (equinedisease.org/support-us) or send a check to The Foundation for the Horse, c/o Equine Disease Communication Center, 4033 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511.