Equine epidemiology: Horserace Betting Levy Board workshop. London, 24 October 1996.

The research article discusses a workshop conducted by the Horserace Betting Levy Board Veterinary Advisory Committee to assess the current state of equine epidemiology in the UK. The workshop comprised four sessions addressing the global status, surveillance of equine diseases, epidemiological methods, and the future of veterinary epidemiology.

Workshop Overview

• The Horserace Betting Levy Board Veterinary Advisory Committee (VAC) organized this workshop. Hosting the workshop was Professor Lord Soulsby, the Chairman of VAC. The purpose of the workshop was to review the existing conditions of equine epidemiology (study of disease distribution and patterns among horses) in the UK.

Workshop Sessions

• The workshop was divided into four sessions. The first session provided an overview of equine epidemiology globally. This session aimed at defining the concept and scope of modern epidemiology and outlining its current status worldwide.
• The second session discussed the need for surveillance of equine diseases in the UK. This involved the monitoring and tracking of health-related data over time to detect any changes in disease patterns.
• In the third session, various epidemiological methods were presented through examples regarding investigations into specific equine diseases. Epidemiological methods are techniques used by researchers to study the distribution and determinants of health and disease conditions in defined populations.
• The fourth, and last session, sought consensus between clinicians and epidemiologists on the future of veterinary epidemiology related to horses in the UK. Here, they aimed to agree on recommendations for the future evolution of this field.

Significance of the Workshop

• This workshop was an important event for those involved in the veterinary world as it was the first of its kind focused on equine epidemiology. It provided insight into the current situation of equine health globally and in the UK, and led to the development of recommendations for the future of veterinary epidemiology in the UK.