UK Edition
Horse owners urged to get their animals tested for flu, as experts say outbreak worst for racing since foot and mouth
Horse owners have been urged to get their animals vaccinated against equine flu as soon as possible after an outbreak caused British racing to be cancelled until at least Wednesday.
Race industry insiders told The Telegraph that this is the worst outbreak of horse disease since foot and mouth, with racing yards on lockdown after three confirmed cases.
It is thought that more horses at race yards are likely to be infected with the disease, which takes 48 hours to incubate, and three days for tests to come back.
Veterinarians worked around the clock on Thursday testing thoroughbreds for equine influenza - but results will not come back until Sunday evening at the earliest.
A source added that the outbreak is likely to cause a much more serious issue for non-racing horses, which are mostly not vaccinated and do not have the same protections against the disease.
The Animal Health Trust has already identified seven cases in domestically-owned horses in a month in Yorkshire, Essex, Suffolk, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.
The British Equestrian Foundation has warned all horse and pony owners to check their animals for signs of the illness and keep all infected animals in quarantine.
A spokesperson said: "It is crucial for all horse and pony owners to be vigilant and follow recommended guidelines on how to detect and prevent the spread of this infectious disease.
"Look out for signs of disease which can include high temperature, cough, snotty nose, enlarged glands (under the lower jaw), swollen or sore eyes, depression, loss of appetite and swelling in the lower legs.
"If you see any of these signs, isolate the horse and call your vet immediately."
The British Horseracing Authority warned: "This is a wider horse health issue which is not confined to horseracing. Unlike thoroughbreds in Britain, it is not compulsory for the wider horse population to be vaccinated against equine flu. Whilst the BHA is not specifically responsible for non-racehorses, the general advice to owners would be to contact your vet if you have concerns."