Equine Flu Outbreak

[jono]

Although very serious and contagious, it sounds like it's not deadly which is the important thing first and foremost. Horses in serious cases can take months to recover though.

You'd imagine today's cancellation isn't scratching the surface and it's understandably merely buying the BHA some time to assess. Imagine they'll have to draw a line through this weekend at the very least, anf into next week as a bare minimum.

Shocked racing in Ireland takes place but that hopefully is a good sign. You'd imagine Elliott would have been notified earlier than the announcement and was able to quarantine his horses before integrating back into his yard.

I'm fearing the worst though...

[Old Vic]

Although very serious and contagious, it sounds like it's not deadly which is the important thing first and foremost. Horses in serious cases can take months to recover though.

You'd imagine today's cancellation isn't scratching the surface and it's understandably merely buying the BHA some time to assess. Imagine they'll have to draw a line through this weekend at the very least, anf into next week as a bare minimum.

Shocked racing in Ireland takes place but that hopefully is a good sign. You'd imagine Elliott would have been notified earlier than the announcement and was able to quarantine his horses before integrating back into his yard.

I'm fearing the worst though...

Racing in Ireland can probably continue if the Elliott runners were quarantined although the bit about humans in press release also an issue ? If there are no new cases in next say 10 days Id be hopeful but worrying that vaccinated horses are getting infected.

[Hurricane fly]

The cases in Australia, were they also vaccinated horses catching it?

[Rhinestone_Cowboy]

Confirmed that GE’s Ayr runners were in transit when the news broke so now in quarantine and explains why racing goes ahead there today...a small piece of good news. Apparently a BHA update this morning

[boopa]

The cases in Australia, were they also vaccinated horses catching it?

They didn't vaccinate over there.

[Old Vic]

The cases in Australia, were they also vaccinated horses catching it?

Reading this

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/racing/breeds-lack-immunity-20070827-gdqyko.html

I think may be not ? Also quarantine system was condemned

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Australian_equine_influenza_outbreak

[FaugheenTheMachine]

BHA latest update says they will decide tonight if racing can take place tomorrow; need to see what’s happening after more tests have taken place etc

[Old Vic]

BHA latest update says they will decide tonight if racing can take place tomorrow; need to see what’s happening after more tests have taken place etc

No chance imo.

[Hurricane fly]

They didn't vaccinate over there.

Appreciate they have been condemned for short givings but my main hope was it means that another vaccination may have been worked on as this strain is clearly able to fight past the current one

[mayo]

n a further statement on Thursday they said: "Racing was shut down today as a precautionary measure to restrict the movement of thoroughbred race horses and prevent any further spread of the virus. This is a standard contingency in the event of an infectious disease affecting our horses. It was essential that racing be stood down today and controls on movements of horses be put in place in order to attempt to control the spread of the disease, and the decision was taken swiftly last night that this course of action should be taken, once the extent of the issue was known. The BHA consulted with its veterinary committee before making this decision.

"We will endeavour to issue regular information but we are still in the early stages of assessing the scale and severity of the outbreak. We are working quickly to identify the extent of the infection and will have more information when further test results are returned today. The results from those tests will not be known until this evening. Following these results being known a call will be convened to discuss the implications and a decision will then be made as to the impact on racing in the coming days.

"We are aware that people want to know the situation as regards racing tomorrow and this weekend and we will seek to provide more clarity as soon as we are able. It is likely that any definitive decisions on whether racing can take place tomorrow will be taken later this evening.

"We are contacting trainers of all yards which might conceivably have had contact with horses from the affected yard in order to advise them on biosecurity measures and to ask them not to move horses. We are also issuing guidance to the wider population of trainers. We are working closely with the National Trainers Federation to share this information and ensure that trainers are kept as informed as possible. Trainers are being sent a contact number should they have further questions, and they are advised to contact their vets with any further concerns.

"Anyone visiting a racing yard should exercise appropriate caution and check with a trainer before visiting, and trainers are advised to limit where possible the movement of people to and from their yard. There is a Code of Practice for dealing with infectious diseases on the website of the National Trainers Federation.

"All British race horses are vaccinated against equine influenza. However this strain has affected vaccinated horses. The disease may be serious in unvaccinated horses, although symptoms in vaccinated horses are usually mild and transient. Symptoms may include a raised temperature, a cough and nasal discharge. It is highly contagious. Humans are not at risk from the virus though can be transmitters of the virus.

"The situation here is not the same as the incident in Australia in 2007. Australian thoroughbreds are not vaccinated against influenza, while British thoroughbreds are, as the virus is endemic in the UK. Therefore an important barrier is in place to prevent the same situation occurring here. However, as we have seen in Europe, the virus has affected vaccinated horses in this case. The vaccine should however help reduce to a certain extent the effect and spread of the disease in thoroughbreds.

"This is a wider horse health issue which is not confined to horseracing. Unlike thoroughbreds, the wider horse population in Britain is not vaccinated against equine flu. Whilst the BHA is not specifically responsible for non-race-horses, the general advice to owners would be to contact your vet if you have concerns"

Davy and Gordon also in quarantine.

[mayo]

From BBC

Since the start of 2019, there have been seven outbreaks of equine flu - in Essex, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Suffolk.

The two cases in Suffolk involved thoroughbreds - one centred on eight vaccinated two-year-old horses and the other was six unvaccinated animals

Hardly a trainer of note who didnt have a runner at Ayr or Ludlow

[FaugheenTheMachine]

Wolverhampton have already cancelled for Saturday

[mayo]

Bit below important me thinks



Trainer Gordon Elliott had five runners at Ayr yesterday, where the infected yard had one runner.

Elliott told the Racing Post: "We didn't take them back to the yard. They are in isolation in a yard 10 or 15 miles away from our own that has no racehorses in it.

"The authorities have to take every precaution, which is understandable. We've been told it's a million-to one chance that it will impact our runners, but we're not going to take any chances. We'll leave them in quarantine as long as we have to.

"If the three horses from the affected yard that were racing on Wednesday test negative, well then it will be a big sigh of relief for everyone. If they come back positive, well then anyone else who brought horses back to their yard, more so English trainers as they might not have got the notification on time, then it's a concern."

[Kevloaf]

Elliott has restored some confidence in the situation.

I can't even begin to imagine what 2001 was like.

I can't concentrate

[Bayoffreedom]

Elliott has restored some confidence in the situation.

I can't even begin to imagine what 2001 was like.

I can't concentrate

2001 was terrible;not helped by the fact that Cheltenham had allowed sheep to graze on the racecourse inner. From memory the final decision wasn't taken until a week or so before the Festival and Irish trainers had already decided not to come.
On a personal note, I am relieved that Elliott was able to isolate his horses and that Ireland may be able to continue to race; I will keep checking before flying over tomorrow night to watch BOF at Punchestown on Sunday.
One of the great pleasures in life is anticipation and this just gives a sinking feeling and takes away a little of the excitement that Cheltenham approaching normally provides; I can't concentrate or sleep Kev and have been up since 4.30am finding out the latest.