No new equine flu cases

Racing365
February 9, 2019 4:32 pm

Tests on hundreds of horses have unearthed no new cases of equine flu, according to the British Horseracing Authority.

All race meetings in Britain have been cancelled until Wednesday after six cases of the virus were detected towards the end of the week.

In a statement released on Saturday afternoon, the BHA said the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket had reported ‘no further positive samples’ following the six detected at Donald McCain’s stable.

While it is positive news, the BHA‘s Director of Equine Health and Welfare, David Sykes, feels nobody connected with the sport should rest on their laurels. ‘Our focus remains on containing the virus,’ he said.

‘I would advise against anyone drawing any conclusions or making any predictions based on this set of results.’

The Animal Health Trust has already received around 2,100 nasal swabs from stables across the country but many have still to be analysed.

Swabs taken from three suspected cases at the yard of trainer Rebecca Menzies have returned negative results, with Sykes adding: ‘Though hundreds of tests have been completed already, there are many hundreds more to be analysed over the weekend before we will have a fuller picture.

‘The nature of disease control means that if a positive did emerge elsewhere, that could lead to more yards being locked down.’