Identifying and reporting disease

If you have identified a horse that shows any sign of sickness or has an infectious disease:

Isolate the horse and consult with a veterinarian as soon as possible. Early detection and reporting can help prevent or contain an emergency disease outbreak
Use full, correctly fitted, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when handling a sick horse. Horse owners should always have a PPE kit on hand
Do not handle other horses after handling a sick horse. If this is not possible, make sure you handle the sick horse last, then wash your hands thoroughly, change your clothes and disinfect your boots before going near any other horses
Keep any gear such as rugs, halters, lead ropes, feed bins, and grooming brushes, separate and use only for the sick horse
Disinfect any gear used on a sick horse before using on other horses.

If you suspect your horse has an infectious or notifiable disease, report it immediately to your private vet or by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Visit our web page for more about reporting pests and diseases.