Proving that even the best laid plans of mice and men go astray, a
freak occurrence has threatened to delay the start of the 2002 breeding season
for a number of prominent shuttle stallions.
Both AAP Racing and Racing & Sports have reported that an imported
Canadian pacing stallion has been detected with the potentially deadly West
Nile Virus, hence the precautionary measure taken by the Australian Quarantine
Service (AQS) to indefinitely detain the shuttlers in quarantine. While the
infected horse has been isolated, and the risk to the shuttle stallions is
minimal, the move is seen as one that had to be taken given the serious
implications were an outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease to occur.
The US thoroughbred press has carried quite a few reports of death due to West
Nile Virus – thought to have originated in Uganda and first found in America
in 1999 – both in people (11) and horses.
AQS is expected to begin releasing the shuttle stallions as early as next
week, however will not do so until they are satisfied there is no risk of the
virus breaking out. Hopefully, the delay will not impact too much on the
thoroughbred breeding season.
Article supplied by Wayne Aldridge.
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