Efforts to combat strangles recognised.

The British Horse Society recognised the significant contributions of Dr. Andrew Waller, head of bacteriology at the Animal Health Trust, to combat strangles, a devastating equine disease. Dr. Waller’s work included developing diagnostic tools and working towards launching the first strangles vaccine.

Awards and Recognition

• The British Horse Society (BHS), a charity organisation devoted to equine welfare, honoured individuals and organisations supporting their work during an awards ceremony. The event took place on November 2 at Saddlers Hall, London.
• One of the recipients of these awards was Dr. Andrew Waller, the head of bacteriology at the Animal Health Trust (AHT). Dr. Waller received the Welfare Award for Excellent Service in the Cause of Equine Welfare.
• The award was presented in recognition of Dr. Waller’s significant research aimed at combating strangles. His contributions have advanced the understanding of this equine disease on various fronts.

Research to Combat Strangles

• Dr. Waller’s key contributions include the development of diagnostic tools such as blood and DNA tests. These tools help identify infected horses, contributing greatly to the control and prevention of strangles.
• He also worked towards the launch of the first stringent and safe vaccine against strangles, further extending his contributions to fighting this disease.
• His collaborations and liaisons have been instrumental in advancing awareness and education about strangles. He partnered with the British Horse Society on strangles education as well as the development of STEPS, a strategy aimed at eradicating and preventing strangles.

Impact and Importance

• In accepting his award, Dr. Waller expressed his humble gratitude and underscored the importance of these new diagnostic tests meeting the needs of the horse-owning public. He expressed delight that the tools are already impacting the prevention and control of the terrible disease, further affirming his commitment to the cause.
• From the British Horse Society, Lee Hackett praised the remarkable work done by Dr. Waller and his colleagues at the Animal Health Trust. He highlighted the progress that their research contributed to the understanding of strangles, benefiting both horses and people immensely.