Strangles week online as virus highlights biosecurity

As people realise the importance of minimising disease spread, it is hoped this will help improve equine practice

- BECKY MURRAY

A NEW strangles initiative aiming to eradicate stigma surrounding the disease will go ahead online – as the pandemic reinforces the importance of biosecurity.

Strangles Awareness Week (4–10 May) is a collaboration between Redwings, the Animal Health Trust (AHT), the British Horse Society (BHS), Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy, Scotland’s Rural College, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, World Horse Welfare and backed by the British Equine Veterinary Association.

Events will run on social media, where people are encouraged to share strangles experiences, key messages and myth-busting facts, and take the Redwings Stamp Out Strangles! pledge, agreeing to champion good biosecurity and speak out about the disease. There will also be a live conversation between AHT head of bacteriology research Andrew Waller and Redwings’ senior vet and head of welfare Nic de Brauwere.