Outbreak of Strangles Disease in ACT and NSW

 

A highly contagious disease that has the potential to kill horses has broken out in the ACT and parts of southern New South Wales.

Strangles is a bacterial disease that causes nasal discharge and swelling of the lymph nodes around the animal's neck and head, which, in extreme cases, restricts breathing. 

ACT senior veterinary officer Dr Will Andrew says the five outbreaks so far have been among recreational horses.

"It's serious only if it gets out of control, because you always have an odd case of strangles going along in the horse population," he said.

"But it's been known historically to actually cause quite severe populations (to be) coming down with strangles.

"And in fact it was a major disease in the First World War, where the horses were in occupied territories overseas."

Source: abc.net.au