PUNE: In a panic-stricken situation after more than 1,500 racehorses in Pune fell sick wheezing and sneezing due to the suspected equine influenza or horse flu, forcing the Western Indian Turf Club (RWITC) to put off the racing season that was to begin on Nov. 16, to Jan. 15 next year.
Virologists with the Disease Investigation Section (DIAS) of the state animal husbandry department said that such outbreaks happened earlier in Kashmir, Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in June.
The virus has also infected horses in Australia and Japan last year, and is feared that this may likely spread to the nearby Gulf countries and infect the horses there.
In an attempt to contain the virus in horses spreading further, the virologists have collected 115 samples from 15 stud farms, which they said will be sent to the National Center for Equine Research in Haryana state for confirmation.
Senior veterinary surgeon Dr. Ravi Reddy said, that the racing horses had been ill for more than a week with high fever and are suffering from nasal discharge, some of them even have lung abscess, and are being treated at Pune recourse, some of the thoroughbreds have not responded to the first line of treatment and are on antibiotics for second bacterial infection, he said.
According to virologists at the National Institute of Virology in Pune, the equine influenza occurs globally.
The impact of an outbreak among horses can be devastating, with the ramifications most telling on the racing fraternity.
The secretary of RWITC, Behram Engineer, said that the club has imposed a ban on the movement of the horses from Pune to Mumbai till the virus problem is controlled.
