Epizootic lymphangitis: how to spot and report the disease

Epizootic lymphangitis affects horses and mules. It can affect cattle, but this is rare. It does not affect humans.

Clinical signs

Symptoms include:

• patches of damaged skin anywhere on the body
• swollen and hard glands
• a thick yellow scab over a patch of ulcers
• discharge or ulcers in the nostrils

Pay special attention to damaged skin in and around wounds, especially if the wound has been healed for months.

The earlier you detect epizootic lymphangitis, the more likely the disease can be cured. Fatality increases the later the disease is found.

How epizootic lymphangitis is spread

Epizootic lymphangitis is spread by flies and by contaminated riding equipment.

The disease can live in soil for up to 15 days.

Human health implications

There are no human health implications because the disease is not zoonotic.

How to control the disease

If epizootic haemorrhagic disease is confirmed, the outbreak will be controlled in line with the contingency framework for exotic notifiable animal diseases.

Biosecurity

The Government's policy on disease control is that prevention is better than cure. This approach works by reducing the chances of a disease entering the animal population, and if it does then it can be quickly spotted and dealt with through the preventative measures.

You can help prevent disease by practising strict biosecurity on your premises. Our equine biosecurity guidance outlines practical, day-to-day actions that can be easily adopted in order to reduce the potential for the introduction or spread of disease-causing agents.