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77.
Virus Scare Upsets
Stud Plans
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26/08/2002 |
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A
quarantine virus scare is threatening to throw the start of the Australian
breeding season into disarray.
A number of high profile northern hemisphere shuttle stallions will not be
released from quarantine in Sydney as scheduled this week due to the detection
of the dreaded West Nile virus in an imported pacing stallion.
The Canadian import has been isolated with a cough in an attempt to prevent the
fatal virus, carried by mosquitoes, spreading to other horses and humans.
The Australian Quarantine Service says the risk to other horses is minimal but
they will not release any thoroughbreds currently in quarantine until it is
satisfied there is no threat of a virus outbreak.
The imports currently in quarantine were due to be delivered to their Australian
studs this week and are booked to begin serving local mares from September 1,
the official start of the Australian breeding season.
However the stallions are unlikely to be released until next week at the
earliest and will throw the breeding schedule at major studs such as Coolmore
and Arrowfield into disarray.
Coolmore Stud has postponed an open day and stallion parade scheduled for next
Sunday and Arrowfield Stud has also cancelled a parade in Sydney of its newest
acquisition Zafonic.
The stallions currently in quarantine with Zafonic include Giant’s Causeway,
the Coolmore replacement for Danehill who is standing at a record Australian
first season service fee of $137,500.
A growing number of horses and 11 humans have died in America after being
infected by West Nile virus since it was first detected in the US in 1999.
The virus was traced to Uganda and is transmitted by mosquitoes picking it up
from infected birds.
Horses suffer from inflammation of the brain, listlessness, lack of coordination
and partial paralysis leading to death.
Humans develop flu-like symptoms with those with weakened immune systems most
susceptible to the disease.
By
Chris Scholtz
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