THE Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is seeking an urgent meeting with the Department of Agriculture over a chronic shortage of equine herpes virus vaccine. An outbreak of equine herpes virus (EHV-1 or EHV-4) can cause epidemic abortion in mares and the birth of weak non-viable foals. Only one vaccine in licensed in Ireland and stocks have run dangerously low, says the ITBA, which wants the Department to consider licensing alternative vaccines which are available in the USA.