In the UK, an imported horse has been detected positive with swamp fever, a rare case in the region.

The horse was imported from the Netherlands into Northumberland along with five other horses. It is suffering from swamp fever. It is the second case of such fever in the UK. No identification was found in other horses of virus.

As declared by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), there is requirement that horse should be killed.

The fever is caused by a virus called Equine infectious anaemia (EIA), which is not perilous to humans.

Other horses are also being tested for the virus. No revelation was made about the enclosure where the horse was kept and nobody is allowed to enter that place.

The virus catches horses, mules and donkeys and can lead to consequences like fever, anaemia, emaciation and death. It enters the body through insect bites or through infected horses.

"This again shows the success of our post import testing regime. This was an apparently healthy horse carrying a notifiable disease that we are keen to keep out of Great Britain", said Nigel Gibbens, Defra Chief Veterinary Officer.

He added that in order to prevent the risk, he had decided to destroy the horse gently.