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There have been numerous reports in the newspapers that a non thoroughbred stallion in the same NSW quarantine complex as some of the thoroughbred shuttle stallions has displayed some clinical signs that are associated with West Nile Virus and that blood has been taken from that stallion to diagnose the problem. The thoroughbred shuttle stallions are being retained for some days longer while the diagnosis is completed.

If the non thoroughbred stallion is diagnosed as having West Nile Virus it probably came from a mosquito bite in Chicago and was incubating on the flight over to Australia. There is next to nil problem for the shuttle horses as all horses and humans are dead end hosts of this virus. The infected stallion can not spread it to other horses or to humans. The Australian Quarantine Service has proper protocols in place to monitor horses coming into Australia and it is very good for everyone to see the necessity of the quarantining.

There has never been a reported case of this virus in Australia although I recall a situation similar to this some years ago in Victoria. The virus is a major problem in the USA where it has spread from New York to the majority of mainland states. The hosts are primarily birds but also horses and humans and the virus is spread in the USA by the mosquito. The vaccine against this virus has not been proven to be successful or unsuccessful and it is almost impossible to totally control the mosquito vector. The shuttle stallions in quarantine do not present a risk to our horse or human population.

The publicity surrounding the unfortunate stallion has come at the same time as RIRDC has released an excellent booklet titled Equine Exotic Diseases, which was prepared by Dr. Jennie Hodgson. It is a first class handbook for all breeders who want to be informed on how we can keep Australia free from many of the dreadful infectious diseases found elsewhere in the world.

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