A case of the contagious horse disease, Strangles, has been confirmed on the island of Guernsey, off Britain's Normandy coast after test results sent to the UK last week came back positive.
Strangles is a highly infectious bacterial disease that causes fever, coughing and enlarged lymph nodes in the throat and is prevalent in Europe and the United Kingdom. It is a serious respiratory infection that affects donkeys, horses and ponies. The disease has proven fatal to some animals.
The colt with Strangles arrived on 19 February from the UK with three other horses. This horse and the horses which have had contact with it since its arrival in the country are under voluntary isolation along with all the other horses in their yards.
All equine events have been suspended until at least next week while animal health officials search for any other instances of the disease. If no other animals are found to have the disease, the events will resume, but the horses in the isolated yards will not be allowed to participate.
The condition of the young horse with Strangles is said to be improving, but the colt is still far from its ideal health.
If no other animals are found to have the disease, the events will resume, but the horses in the isolated yards will not be allowed to participate.