100 horses infected by Equine Influenza virus

SERI KEMBANGAN: The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) has confirmed that some 100 horses nationwide have been infected with the Equine Influenza (EI) virus.
Its deputy director-general Dr Kamarudin Md Isa said all the affected horses from the Selangor (STC) and the Perak Turf Club (PTC) are currently being quarantined, and assured that humans are not in danger of being affected.
He also expressed confidence that the DVS would be able to resolve the issue within the next one and a half months.
"We take a serious view of this issue, and hope to reduce or resolve it as soon as possible," he told reporters after a meeting with the STC here today.
Kamarudin said the disease had most likely originated from the import of horses from overseas, adding that four horses had recently been imported from New Zealand on July 31.
He added that the meeting had also decided that a diagnosis had to be done by taking the horses' samples which would be sent to the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) in Ipoh and to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) for further checks.
Kamarudin also said that following the rapid spread of the disease, a notice on the prohibition of the transfer of horses was issued by the DVS on Aug 28.
"All (horse) races are also postponed until further notice. Although we are profit-oriented, we love our horses. We will also temporarily suspend any export or import of horses.
"In addition, all stable owners are also required to reduce the risk of transmission by increasing their bio-security level. For the next one month, we hope no new horses are brought in to the stables," added Kamarudin.
The current EI cases are the first to be reported in Malaysia since 1977.
It is believed that there are some 100 stables and 5,000 horses nationwide presently, with 500 in STC and 250 in PTC.