Crisis just worsens in NSW.
Just announced racing in NSW suspended indefinitely.
Unconfirmed but it has been reported 4 thoroughbreds at Randwick are showing similar symptoms of EI. If this is the case it has just reached a population of 700 horses and this will be the first official cases of thoroughbreds in Australia having EI. Confirmation will be known in 24 hrs.
Australia, New Zealand and Iceland apparently were the only countries in the world free of EI in their horse populations until now.
Here is some further info on it -
The flu virus responsible for equine influenza can be transmitted from one horse to another by means of droplets containing the virus. It reaches uninfected horses by means of people and objects (infected brushes and rugs) that have been in contact with infected horses. The disease is highly contagious with an almost 100% rate of infection in a population of horses newly exposed to the virus. About 20 % of the infected horses do not develop the signs of flu but can spread the disease.
Also, VRC press conference just announced Cup is still on.
A Sydney trainer and vet who experienced the epidemic in South Africa which closed the industry for 6 months say so far the situation in Australia is very similar.
40-50,000 jobs in NSW alone are threatened immediately.
It is unconfirmed but apparently Encosta de Lago was not the carrier.
Aust. thoroughbred racing & pacing shutdown due to EI
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erins isle
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This is a very serious matter. What can be the consequenses, just now the sales are going to start in all the important racecountries in Europe. Numerous horses will come from far and everywhere. Should they all be checked? A danger to racing and bloodstock.
From the Racing Post:
COOLMORE and Darley could suffer a collective financial toll of around £15,000,000 as a result of the suspected case of equine influenza which has locked many of their stallions in quarantine in Australia. The 79 horses affected include all 17 of Darley's shuttle sires from Britain, Ireland and the US, as well as eight Coolmore sires shipped from Ireland.
The stallions include Coolmore's headline sires Encosta de Lago and Danehill Dancer, who stand for A$220,000 and A$110,000 respectively, as well as Darley's top-priced Australian sire Elusive Quality (A$137,500) and US champion Bernardini (A$82,500).
With the stallions, among Australia's busiest, now likely to sit out the month of September in quarantine, they could lose an average of 30-50 covers each, equaling a minimum of A$33,495,000 (£13,713,185/€20,220,090).
However, Peter McGauran, the Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, said the financial sacrifice was for the greater good.
“This is potentially the biggest threat the thoroughbred and horse industry in Australia has ever faced, and nobody is going to take any risks,” he said at a press conference in Melbourne on Friday.
Of the loss of income, he said: “It would be manymillions of dollars, because if they lose a minimum of three weeks breeding when there's up to 25 top stallions there, it can be easily calculated, but it would be infinitesimal compared to the long-term effects if EI was to escape into the wider horse population.”
He added: “The breeding industry has been totally supportive of the government's action. Nobody's looking for a quick fix or to cut corners.”
The stallions were due to be released at the beginning of the week, well in time for the breeding season, which lasts from September 1 through Christmas.
However, the Australian government on Thursday imposed an additional 30-day quarantine on the stallions and mares being held in two facilities, at Eastern Creek in New South Wales and Spotswood, Victoria, after a horse at one of the locations - described by McGauran as "a high-priced stallion" - showed all the signs consistent with equine influenza. A preliminary blood test also suggested the horse has EI, which has never before been reported in Australia.
An outbreak of the contagious disease shut down racing in Japan last week, although some tracks have now been re-opened. A group of 21 horses in the quarantine facilities arrived on a flight from Japan, and although none of them has shown signs of EI, Australian officials suspect that one of them transmitted it, said McGauran.
“Unfortunately they left Japan before EI was detected some ten days ago,” he said. “We would never have taken the shipment of the 21 horses from Japan after it had been detected.”
The Japanese horses boarded a flight in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaido where Japan's main thoroughbred breeding population lives. The flight stopped in Hong Kong and then Melbourne, where some horses got off, beforearriving in Sydney, according to Quentin Wallace, the managing director of International Racehorse Transport (IRT). The flight carried a small number of stallions and mares as well as racing stock, said Wallace.
In all, five flights of horses from various origins were funneled into the quarantine facilities, he added.
Coolmore is not as heavily hit in terms of stallion numbers as Darley, because their shuttlers originating in Kentucky cleared quarantine in July, while Darley's full shuttle intake arrived together. However, in financial terms the eight Coolmore stallions' fees are worth about the same as those of the 17 Darley sires.
Also affected is an IRT flight of about 70 horses, including around 30-40 mares purchased in the northern hemisphere to be imported to Australia and bred during the current season.
“They were due in this weekend. It's a pipeline closure,” said Wallace. “This is the first time in 35 years of doing this we've had such a crisis, and it'sa very difficult time.”
Blood samples will be collected from all of the horses quarantined in Sydney on Monday, and will be sent to the high security laboratory at Geelong, 80 kilometres from Melbourne. The results are expected back on Tuesday or Wednesday.
At the moment, “the veterinary advice is that it is highly suspicious, even very likely to be equine influenza,” said McGauran, the agriculture minister. He said that even if next week's tests turn up negative for EI, the relevant veterinary officers could employ a precautionary principle and still insist on the 30-day quarantine extension.
From the Racing Post:
COOLMORE and Darley could suffer a collective financial toll of around £15,000,000 as a result of the suspected case of equine influenza which has locked many of their stallions in quarantine in Australia. The 79 horses affected include all 17 of Darley's shuttle sires from Britain, Ireland and the US, as well as eight Coolmore sires shipped from Ireland.
The stallions include Coolmore's headline sires Encosta de Lago and Danehill Dancer, who stand for A$220,000 and A$110,000 respectively, as well as Darley's top-priced Australian sire Elusive Quality (A$137,500) and US champion Bernardini (A$82,500).
With the stallions, among Australia's busiest, now likely to sit out the month of September in quarantine, they could lose an average of 30-50 covers each, equaling a minimum of A$33,495,000 (£13,713,185/€20,220,090).
However, Peter McGauran, the Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, said the financial sacrifice was for the greater good.
“This is potentially the biggest threat the thoroughbred and horse industry in Australia has ever faced, and nobody is going to take any risks,” he said at a press conference in Melbourne on Friday.
Of the loss of income, he said: “It would be manymillions of dollars, because if they lose a minimum of three weeks breeding when there's up to 25 top stallions there, it can be easily calculated, but it would be infinitesimal compared to the long-term effects if EI was to escape into the wider horse population.”
He added: “The breeding industry has been totally supportive of the government's action. Nobody's looking for a quick fix or to cut corners.”
The stallions were due to be released at the beginning of the week, well in time for the breeding season, which lasts from September 1 through Christmas.
However, the Australian government on Thursday imposed an additional 30-day quarantine on the stallions and mares being held in two facilities, at Eastern Creek in New South Wales and Spotswood, Victoria, after a horse at one of the locations - described by McGauran as "a high-priced stallion" - showed all the signs consistent with equine influenza. A preliminary blood test also suggested the horse has EI, which has never before been reported in Australia.
An outbreak of the contagious disease shut down racing in Japan last week, although some tracks have now been re-opened. A group of 21 horses in the quarantine facilities arrived on a flight from Japan, and although none of them has shown signs of EI, Australian officials suspect that one of them transmitted it, said McGauran.
“Unfortunately they left Japan before EI was detected some ten days ago,” he said. “We would never have taken the shipment of the 21 horses from Japan after it had been detected.”
The Japanese horses boarded a flight in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaido where Japan's main thoroughbred breeding population lives. The flight stopped in Hong Kong and then Melbourne, where some horses got off, beforearriving in Sydney, according to Quentin Wallace, the managing director of International Racehorse Transport (IRT). The flight carried a small number of stallions and mares as well as racing stock, said Wallace.
In all, five flights of horses from various origins were funneled into the quarantine facilities, he added.
Coolmore is not as heavily hit in terms of stallion numbers as Darley, because their shuttlers originating in Kentucky cleared quarantine in July, while Darley's full shuttle intake arrived together. However, in financial terms the eight Coolmore stallions' fees are worth about the same as those of the 17 Darley sires.
Also affected is an IRT flight of about 70 horses, including around 30-40 mares purchased in the northern hemisphere to be imported to Australia and bred during the current season.
“They were due in this weekend. It's a pipeline closure,” said Wallace. “This is the first time in 35 years of doing this we've had such a crisis, and it'sa very difficult time.”
Blood samples will be collected from all of the horses quarantined in Sydney on Monday, and will be sent to the high security laboratory at Geelong, 80 kilometres from Melbourne. The results are expected back on Tuesday or Wednesday.
At the moment, “the veterinary advice is that it is highly suspicious, even very likely to be equine influenza,” said McGauran, the agriculture minister. He said that even if next week's tests turn up negative for EI, the relevant veterinary officers could employ a precautionary principle and still insist on the 30-day quarantine extension.
The more I get to know people, the more I love animals.
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erins isle
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More from the Racing Post:
IN RESPONSE to the equine influenza outbreak in Australia, the Australian Racing Board has taken the unprecedented step of altering the start date of the Australian breeding season, while New Zealand has halted the import of horses from Australia, and is likely to be asked to ban the export of horses to New South Wales.
The breeding season in Australia officially began on Monday in a bid to ease the backlog that will arise when horse movement restrictions are lifted. All foals of2008 conceived as of this date will be deemed the same age.
Australian Stud Book keeper Michael Ford said: “Even though the change only added five days to the covering season, this move would ease the pressure later in the covering season when the banon the movement of horses is lifted. Only mares which are already at studs can be covered.”
Arrowfield Stud principal John Messara confirmed that his resident stallions, including champion sire Redoute's Choice, would begin covering immediately.
“You don't want home mares competing with walk-ons, so even if it only means 20 or 30 mares can be covered, you might as well get them out of the way now. It's a marginal but positive move,” he told racingandsports.com.au.
No cases of EI have been detected in New Zealand, where officials are working swiftly to identify all horses brought into the country from Australia since August 1. Preliminary results on Sunday showed that 97 horses were imported from Australia during this period, to 55 different properties throughout New Zealand.
Fourteen of these premises, all of which received horses from Australia in the last ten days, have been classified high risk by MAF Biosecurity New Zealand. Blood samples are being collected from the horses, with the results expected by early next week.
“We are working to quickly identify all horses that have entered New Zealand and are in the process of contacting all properties that have received horses,” said MAFBNZ assistant director general Dr Barry O'Neil.
“We have received a number of calls from concerned members of the public but our investigations to date have found no evidence of equine influenza."
In addition, horse equipment arriving in New Zealand from Australia is being re-routed to a treatment facility for disinfection, while passengers entering New Zealand from Australia are being questioned as to their movements within the country, and may have their personal luggage searched.
While there are no plans to vaccinate horses in New Zealand at present, a response plan has been prepared in the event of an outbreak, and two vaccines have been registered for emergency use if the disease should occur.
IN RESPONSE to the equine influenza outbreak in Australia, the Australian Racing Board has taken the unprecedented step of altering the start date of the Australian breeding season, while New Zealand has halted the import of horses from Australia, and is likely to be asked to ban the export of horses to New South Wales.
The breeding season in Australia officially began on Monday in a bid to ease the backlog that will arise when horse movement restrictions are lifted. All foals of2008 conceived as of this date will be deemed the same age.
Australian Stud Book keeper Michael Ford said: “Even though the change only added five days to the covering season, this move would ease the pressure later in the covering season when the banon the movement of horses is lifted. Only mares which are already at studs can be covered.”
Arrowfield Stud principal John Messara confirmed that his resident stallions, including champion sire Redoute's Choice, would begin covering immediately.
“You don't want home mares competing with walk-ons, so even if it only means 20 or 30 mares can be covered, you might as well get them out of the way now. It's a marginal but positive move,” he told racingandsports.com.au.
No cases of EI have been detected in New Zealand, where officials are working swiftly to identify all horses brought into the country from Australia since August 1. Preliminary results on Sunday showed that 97 horses were imported from Australia during this period, to 55 different properties throughout New Zealand.
Fourteen of these premises, all of which received horses from Australia in the last ten days, have been classified high risk by MAF Biosecurity New Zealand. Blood samples are being collected from the horses, with the results expected by early next week.
“We are working to quickly identify all horses that have entered New Zealand and are in the process of contacting all properties that have received horses,” said MAFBNZ assistant director general Dr Barry O'Neil.
“We have received a number of calls from concerned members of the public but our investigations to date have found no evidence of equine influenza."
In addition, horse equipment arriving in New Zealand from Australia is being re-routed to a treatment facility for disinfection, while passengers entering New Zealand from Australia are being questioned as to their movements within the country, and may have their personal luggage searched.
While there are no plans to vaccinate horses in New Zealand at present, a response plan has been prepared in the event of an outbreak, and two vaccines have been registered for emergency use if the disease should occur.
The more I get to know people, the more I love animals.
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wilf
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To be honest I am surprised that a disaster like this has not happened before. Australia's quarantine laws have been tough and successful for years but eventually some germ would have to squeak past the goalie and all hell break loose considering the huge numbers of equines in transit. I lived down under for 17 years and any traveller there knows that the airplane cabin is always sprayed for bacteria with the passengers still seated before you are allowed off. I flew many international horse flights and the practice was not the same as we accompanied the animals to quarantine for two weeks. As far as the shuttle stallions are concerned I always thought that the gene pool was diluted far too much and hopefully the studs will enjoy a longer rest than they have had previously. I have many friends in the racing industry there and hopefully the owners can weather the storm and keep supporting the trainers and grooms.
Hi Wilf!!
Trust all is well with you.
The stallions in quarantine will now be there until mid October as they found another horse with EI today at the quarantine facility.
We are hopeful that some racing will be held this weekend at Caulfield plus Adelaide and Perth. Sydney is a no go and Queensland could start training on tracks again in a couple of days.
There have been suggestions that "closed" race meetings could be held to try and compensate owners and trainers for lost prizemoney. These meetings would be closed to the general public and restricted to horses trained on the track yet be broadcast through the betting venues and pay tv.
The flow on effects from this virus are insurmountable. The government has already been called upon to assist those whose livelihood has been put on hold while the industry is at a standstill.
The really interesting thing is that I just found out more on the two racenet articles above than from information available locally.
They will not announce which stallions have been infected. The reason being as they may be treated has having the plague yet the more you hide from people the more likely you are of having that very same effect you are trying to disguise.
Denon is one of the stallions at Eastern Creek. I don't think he has the bug but I will ring the studmaster again tomorrow to try and find out what is going on.
Trust all is well with you.
The stallions in quarantine will now be there until mid October as they found another horse with EI today at the quarantine facility.
We are hopeful that some racing will be held this weekend at Caulfield plus Adelaide and Perth. Sydney is a no go and Queensland could start training on tracks again in a couple of days.
There have been suggestions that "closed" race meetings could be held to try and compensate owners and trainers for lost prizemoney. These meetings would be closed to the general public and restricted to horses trained on the track yet be broadcast through the betting venues and pay tv.
The flow on effects from this virus are insurmountable. The government has already been called upon to assist those whose livelihood has been put on hold while the industry is at a standstill.
The really interesting thing is that I just found out more on the two racenet articles above than from information available locally.
They will not announce which stallions have been infected. The reason being as they may be treated has having the plague yet the more you hide from people the more likely you are of having that very same effect you are trying to disguise.
Denon is one of the stallions at Eastern Creek. I don't think he has the bug but I will ring the studmaster again tomorrow to try and find out what is going on.
Hi Wilf!!
Trust all is well with you.
The stallions in quarantine will now be there until mid October as they found another horse with EI today at the quarantine facility.
We are hopeful that some racing will be held this weekend at Caulfield plus Adelaide and Perth. Sydney is a no go and Queensland could start training on tracks again in a couple of days.
There have been suggestions that "closed" race meetings could be held to try and compensate owners and trainers for lost prizemoney. These meetings would be closed to the general public and restricted to horses trained on the track yet be broadcast through the betting venues and pay tv.
The flow on effects from this virus are insurmountable. The government has already been called upon to assist those whose livelihood has been put on hold while the industry is at a standstill.
The really interesting thing is that I just found out more on the two racenet articles above than from information available locally.
They will not announce which stallions have been infected. The reason being as they may be treated has having the plague yet the more you hide from people the more likely you are of having that very same effect you are trying to disguise.
Denon is one of the stallions at Eastern Creek. I don't think he has the bug but I will ring the studmaster again tomorrow to try and find out what is going on.
Trust all is well with you.
The stallions in quarantine will now be there until mid October as they found another horse with EI today at the quarantine facility.
We are hopeful that some racing will be held this weekend at Caulfield plus Adelaide and Perth. Sydney is a no go and Queensland could start training on tracks again in a couple of days.
There have been suggestions that "closed" race meetings could be held to try and compensate owners and trainers for lost prizemoney. These meetings would be closed to the general public and restricted to horses trained on the track yet be broadcast through the betting venues and pay tv.
The flow on effects from this virus are insurmountable. The government has already been called upon to assist those whose livelihood has been put on hold while the industry is at a standstill.
The really interesting thing is that I just found out more on the two racenet articles above than from information available locally.
They will not announce which stallions have been infected. The reason being as they may be treated has having the plague yet the more you hide from people the more likely you are of having that very same effect you are trying to disguise.
Denon is one of the stallions at Eastern Creek. I don't think he has the bug but I will ring the studmaster again tomorrow to try and find out what is going on.
ei
Latest news this morning is a horse at Randwick ''almost certainly" has EI.
It is reported this effectively cancels the NSW Spring Carnival and no NSW horses will be able to be involved in the Melbourne Cup Spring Carnival.
It is reported this effectively cancels the NSW Spring Carnival and no NSW horses will be able to be involved in the Melbourne Cup Spring Carnival.
ei
Flu kills spring carnival
Brian Robins
August 30, 2007 - 2:44PM
Sydney's racing spring carnival is off with confirmation that eight out of 10 racehorses at Anthony Cummings's stable at Randwick racecourse have tested positive for horse flu.
NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said the positive tests spelled the death knell for Sydney's spring carnival, with Randwick racecourse to be quarantined for about two months.
The quarantine would extend for 30 days from the last case of the flu and was expected to go through the Randwick site quickly, he told a media conference today.
Peter V'Landys, the chief executive of Racing NSW said: "This is a dark, dark day for racing."
Ten horses from Cummings's stable were tested, with eight returning positive results to the flu.
They are the first racehorses to test positive since the beginning of the nation's flu crisis.
Until today, the flu had been restricted to the pleasure horse industry.
The first sign of the flu among racehorses came overnight, with the results of initial tests taken from the Cummings-trained Paxton showing the gelding had the highly contagious virus.
About 700 racehorses are trained at Randwick and most are expected to eventually be affected by the virus.
There was some good news, however. The flu testing of racehorses at Warwick Farm, Rosehill, Newcastle and Dubbo courses had all proven negative, Mr Macdonald said.
- with AAP
Brian Robins
August 30, 2007 - 2:44PM
Sydney's racing spring carnival is off with confirmation that eight out of 10 racehorses at Anthony Cummings's stable at Randwick racecourse have tested positive for horse flu.
NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said the positive tests spelled the death knell for Sydney's spring carnival, with Randwick racecourse to be quarantined for about two months.
The quarantine would extend for 30 days from the last case of the flu and was expected to go through the Randwick site quickly, he told a media conference today.
Peter V'Landys, the chief executive of Racing NSW said: "This is a dark, dark day for racing."
Ten horses from Cummings's stable were tested, with eight returning positive results to the flu.
They are the first racehorses to test positive since the beginning of the nation's flu crisis.
Until today, the flu had been restricted to the pleasure horse industry.
The first sign of the flu among racehorses came overnight, with the results of initial tests taken from the Cummings-trained Paxton showing the gelding had the highly contagious virus.
About 700 racehorses are trained at Randwick and most are expected to eventually be affected by the virus.
There was some good news, however. The flu testing of racehorses at Warwick Farm, Rosehill, Newcastle and Dubbo courses had all proven negative, Mr Macdonald said.
- with AAP
ei
In my humble opinion, the reality is down here EI is uncontrollable and has spread so quickly it would seem only a matter of time before it bobs up in every state of Australia and across all breeds of horses.
It would appear we are headed for the same fate of South Africa when EI closed racing for 6 months.
For our overseas posters, as Wilf rightly explained, the racing industry down here is the third biggest employer of people in this country and I would hazzard a guess it may even be second for New Zealand who at this stage do not have any reported cases but several farms are being closely watched.
It would appear we are headed for the same fate of South Africa when EI closed racing for 6 months.
For our overseas posters, as Wilf rightly explained, the racing industry down here is the third biggest employer of people in this country and I would hazzard a guess it may even be second for New Zealand who at this stage do not have any reported cases but several farms are being closely watched.
While I understand that racing is very important to Australia, and that the livings of many folks will be drastically impacted, I have not heard how those horses that are already infected are handling the disease.
Here, it's basically something you get through. In a horse population that has never been affected before, I understand that the situation could be worse.
How sick are these horses? Have any died? Are there expected to be many deaths from this?
Here, it's basically something you get through. In a horse population that has never been affected before, I understand that the situation could be worse.
How sick are these horses? Have any died? Are there expected to be many deaths from this?
Check out the retiring thoroughbreds from Finger Lakes Racetrack, for sale through FLTAP (a 501 (c) (3) ) at http://fltrainerlist.proboards104.com/
ei
Sadly, we have just had our first death at Hawkesbury.
We are right in the grip of horses coming down with it that at this stage the recovery process is still bottoming out. The first ones who have shown the best improvement - eventing horses at Centennial Park - are reported to be coming down with secondary infections and are now on antibiotics.
The analysts are still trying to determine which strain of flu it is - it has been reported there are 10 to 15 different types so it is not yet confirmed it is exactly the same as the outbreak in Japan. The analysts are actually still trying to confirm if it is just the one strain of EI that has broken out here or if it is multiple.
The thing I guess that is different in Australia compared with Japan who were back racing in 10 days was, from the reports, they were able to isolate it quickly as most of the thoroughbreds are on the island of Hokkaido.
In Australia, the larget continent in the world occupied by one nation and with well over 15/20 different horse breeds, it is a bit like a giant horse paddock surrounded by water.
The biggest concern is it is right at the start of the breeding/foaling season and with a reported 40% fatality with new born foals, the well known Hunter Valley where most of the biggest studs in the world have bases along with Arrowfield, Makybe Diva's new foal etc, great concern is held for this region.
Here is the medical definition for EI and from reports so far, this is identical to what trainers and vets here are reporting -
The main clinical signs of EI in horses and donkeys are usually a deep, dry, hacking cough, a watery nasal discharge that may become cloudy or coloured and a sudden increase in temperature (38.5 degrees Celsius or higher). Other signs can include depression, loss of appetite, laboured breathing, muscle pain and muscle stiffness.
Situation across NSW becoming worse at a rapid rate
Clinton Payne racenet.com.au
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald has confirmed the equine influenza (EI) outbreak across NSW is getting worse by the minute with a steep jump in confirmed cased over the last 24 hours.
Minister Macdonald said there were now 488 infected horses on 41 known properties across NSW in areas including Centennial Park and the Eastern Creek Quarantine station in Sydney as well as near Parkes, Moonbi and Berry.
“Many of these animals have just moved from suspect to infected – in line with our expectations. This is an extremely infectious disease,” Macdonald said.
“In addition, another 1646 horses are suspected of having Equine Influenza on another 100 properties.
“Veterinarians are monitoring their health and owners have been asked to keep a close eye on their animals and exercise vigilance with hygiene and disinfection.”
Minister Macdonald said several new infected properties were the same locations as yesterday’s suspect centres.
“New restricted areas have now been established at Hornsby, East Maitland, Eagleton, Lake Macquarie and Timbumburi,” he said.
He also revealed an infected horse has become the first recorded fatality of the outbreak.
“My understanding is a fairly old horse has died at Wilberforce,” he said.
We are right in the grip of horses coming down with it that at this stage the recovery process is still bottoming out. The first ones who have shown the best improvement - eventing horses at Centennial Park - are reported to be coming down with secondary infections and are now on antibiotics.
The analysts are still trying to determine which strain of flu it is - it has been reported there are 10 to 15 different types so it is not yet confirmed it is exactly the same as the outbreak in Japan. The analysts are actually still trying to confirm if it is just the one strain of EI that has broken out here or if it is multiple.
The thing I guess that is different in Australia compared with Japan who were back racing in 10 days was, from the reports, they were able to isolate it quickly as most of the thoroughbreds are on the island of Hokkaido.
In Australia, the larget continent in the world occupied by one nation and with well over 15/20 different horse breeds, it is a bit like a giant horse paddock surrounded by water.
The biggest concern is it is right at the start of the breeding/foaling season and with a reported 40% fatality with new born foals, the well known Hunter Valley where most of the biggest studs in the world have bases along with Arrowfield, Makybe Diva's new foal etc, great concern is held for this region.
Here is the medical definition for EI and from reports so far, this is identical to what trainers and vets here are reporting -
The main clinical signs of EI in horses and donkeys are usually a deep, dry, hacking cough, a watery nasal discharge that may become cloudy or coloured and a sudden increase in temperature (38.5 degrees Celsius or higher). Other signs can include depression, loss of appetite, laboured breathing, muscle pain and muscle stiffness.
Situation across NSW becoming worse at a rapid rate
Clinton Payne racenet.com.au
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald has confirmed the equine influenza (EI) outbreak across NSW is getting worse by the minute with a steep jump in confirmed cased over the last 24 hours.
Minister Macdonald said there were now 488 infected horses on 41 known properties across NSW in areas including Centennial Park and the Eastern Creek Quarantine station in Sydney as well as near Parkes, Moonbi and Berry.
“Many of these animals have just moved from suspect to infected – in line with our expectations. This is an extremely infectious disease,” Macdonald said.
“In addition, another 1646 horses are suspected of having Equine Influenza on another 100 properties.
“Veterinarians are monitoring their health and owners have been asked to keep a close eye on their animals and exercise vigilance with hygiene and disinfection.”
Minister Macdonald said several new infected properties were the same locations as yesterday’s suspect centres.
“New restricted areas have now been established at Hornsby, East Maitland, Eagleton, Lake Macquarie and Timbumburi,” he said.
He also revealed an infected horse has become the first recorded fatality of the outbreak.
“My understanding is a fairly old horse has died at Wilberforce,” he said.
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summerhorse
- Breeder's Cup Winner
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Maven wrote:I wonder how this will affect shuttling or shuttling practices in the future, if at all. I would love to hear Brogers opinion on this. He's as informed and qualified a person on shuttling and S. Hemisphere breeding.
I hope it teaches them to vaccinate for diseases common in other countries you bring in lots of horses from!
Every mighty oak was once an acorn that stood its ground.
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CA Michael
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arganaut, I spent a few hours on the phone lining up southern hemisphere breedings in Kentucky for some mares lined up to ship to Australia in your summer. A few farms here are seizing the moment by opening up their breeding sheds in September. Thus far, the most promising stallion on this list IMO is NORTH LIGHT (Danehill), winner of the English Derby several years ago.
Im sure the drop in Coolmore's expected stallion revenue this year will have a dramatic effect on the September Keeneland yearling sale. Darley should have the top of the market all to themselves. Of course, the ripple effect will ultimately affect all sellers and buyers, as well as the regional sales.
Global economics--when one domino falls, others aren't far behind.
Im sure the drop in Coolmore's expected stallion revenue this year will have a dramatic effect on the September Keeneland yearling sale. Darley should have the top of the market all to themselves. Of course, the ripple effect will ultimately affect all sellers and buyers, as well as the regional sales.
Global economics--when one domino falls, others aren't far behind.
Convictions without Courage are worthless
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nferro9925
- Grade III Winner
- Posts: 1244
- Joined: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:59 am