Equine Grass Sickness: Reporting Dashboard Launched for Horse Owners and Other Professionals

Equine grass sickness (EGS) is a devastating and complex disease, striking horses and ponies anywhere in the UK, where sadly up to 80% of those suffering, will die. Three years ago, the Equine Grass Sickness Fund (EGSF) and Moredun Research Institute (MRI) launched a new project, designed to widen the research approach, engage with vets and horse owners and, importantly, establish a sample biobank and online case reporting system to improve disease surveillance. Now, with considerable progress being made in all areas, a new, real-time case reporting system and associated analytics dashboard based on anonymised EGS case reports is launching.

Mass, intricate data collection surrounding EGS cases is vital in gaining insight into potential causes and risk factors for the disease. This data then helps direct research efforts. Working with the Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS) team based at the University of Cambridge Vet School, and Dr John Grewar of jDATA, a fabulous resource for vets, horse owners and researchers dealing with EGS cases has been developed. Both the case reporting system and analytics dashboard are now live but are undergoing further development to optimise their effectiveness.

Features of the currently available platforms are:

• An easy system for owners or vets to anonymously report the occurrence of cases of EGS to provide valuable information for ongoing surveillance and research 
• An analytics dashboard based on the cases reported to the EGSF, allowing the occurrence over time and across the UK to be visualised
• Insight and data available for horse owners to keep up to date on occurrences and area hot spots

Anne Logan, EGSF Chair said, “Data collection plays a vital role in EGS research, not just for vets and scientists but also, most importantly, for horse owners. Our new real-time reporting system will be invaluable in raising awareness. It is another example of how important collaboration with other researchers is in the Fund’s quest for greater understanding of this complex disease and ultimately identification of a causal agent. I would urge all horse owners and vets to visit the EGSF website and engage with the new dashboard.”

The International Collating Centre (ICC), which provides a reporting system for equine diseases worldwide, will incorporate real time reporting of EGS cases notified through our system and in other countries, thereby improving our knowledge and understanding of EGS globally.

In summary, the more data obtained, the more accurate our results will be, so please report all cases, preferably right away, but even retrospectively is welcome!

To access the dashboard visit the Equine Grass Sickness website.