The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today announced that all horse race meetings scheduled for today, 7th February 2019, have been cancelled due to three confirmed Equine Influenza positives from vaccinated horses in an active racing yard.
The BHA has advised those yards potentially at risk to implement appropriate quarantine and biosecurity measures to avoid possible further spread of the disease.
Equine Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease of horses, donkeys and mules and infected animals may have a nasal discharge, coughing and a high fever. The virus, which can be airborne, can be transmitted over a reasonable distance and can also be transmitted indirectly including via people.
Although all competition horses are vaccinated against Equine ‘flu, the virus is noted for the ability to modify itself over time, so outbreaks can occur when the vaccine immunity no longer fully protects against the modified virus.
There is no current threat to other animals. This subtype of flu (H3N8) has infected rescue-shelter dogs and greyhounds in the USA and also caused a small outbreak in foxhounds in the UK in 2002, but did not enter the UK dog population. This subtype from horses does not infect humans.
The GBGB is liaising closely with the BHA and the Animal Health Trust to keep up to date with developments.
Currently there is no risk to the greyhound population and racing will continue as normal. However, should trainers find that any of their greyhounds becomes ill for an unexplained reason, they should contact their local veterinary practice and the GBGB Stipendiary Steward.
Trainers with kennels adjacent to stables are asked to be sympathetic to the quarantine and biosecurity measure being implemented at horse racing yards and minimise traffic on to these sites.
