Two New Cases of EI at Lamorlaye

[Wandering Eyes]

Equine influenza at a second trainer’s yard at Lamorlaye has been confirmed by France Galop, and the Jour de Galop quotes France Galop’s director of veterinary services Paul-Marie Gadot as saying that two horses have tested positive for the illness in that yard. These two cases follow the news that another yard had been affected by equine influenza first reported Monday in Lamorlaye, near Chantilly and brings the total number of horses with symptoms to five. As was the case Monday, France Galop did not release the name of the trainer, but said, “All the necessary measures to control the infection have been taken in coordination with the trainer and his veterinarian.” The France Galop news release, as it did Monday, again advised trainers that, “Due to the spread of the disease, trainers are reminded of the need to isolate horses with respiratory signs, to quarantine any new arrivals, to carry out tests for the virus by nasopharyngeal swab on horses with symptoms, to minimize movement and to transport only healthy animals after verifying that their temperature is normal, and to be very careful with the movements of horses and people to avoid an extension of the disease.”

The Jour de Galop reported that the second cases were confirmed in a yard close to the first. Said Gadot to the JDG, “Since the end of last week, we knew that there was a problem with this trainer, and we didn’t have to wait for the test results to put measures in place. Two horses presented with symptoms (cough, hypothermia) that made us think that flu was possible. In agreement with the trainer, the horses, which were not entered anyway, will only be able to run once we are certain that the virus is no longer present. The horses with the disease are confined to the stable. Those who are not ill will be able to access the tracks at time when they will not meet other horses in training. Regarding the second affected facility, it is located fairly close to the first affected stable. Two horses had fever and a bit of discharge. The measures (in place) are substantially the same as in the first case.”

Gadot, who told the JDG that vets had been aware the virus had been circulating in the north of France, Belgium, the Pays-Bas region, and northern Germany in sport horses, said that, “There are several aspects that justify our not communicating the name of the professional concerned. On the one hand, veterinarians are bound by medical secrecy. If their client forbids them to communicate his identity, they must respect his wishes, and France Galop must do the same.”

British racing was shut down for six days earlier this month after six equine influenza positives were detected in the yard of National Hunt trainer Donald McCain. Four other positives were later confirmed from the yard of Newmarket trainer Simon Crisford.

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