FESTIVAL PLANS ARE HIT

WHY DOESN’T THE VACCINATION ALWAYS WORK? IS THERE A HEALTH RISK TO HUMANS?

until all horses at those yards are tested. The BHA’S move to wipe out the weekend action – 17 meetings were due to take place over the next five days – will disrupt trainers’ preparations for the Cheltenham Festival.

Problems escalated last night, with the testing process for the highly contagious condition hampered by a shortage at the Animal Health Trust of the swabs needed to take samples. That could push back the proposed restart day.

“We’ve been inundated with requests for swabs,” said HOW LONG DOES IT LAST FOR?

In vaccinated horses, usually between 24 and 48 hours, although athletic performance can be affected for several weeks and a full recovery can take several months. Equine flu can be fatal in some cases, but deaths are rare.

HAS IT DISRUPTED BRITISH RACING BEFORE?

Yes. There was an outbreak in 1979 — the Jockey Club introduced mandatory vaccination two years later — a spokesman for the Newmarket-based charity.

“Due to the current situation and increase in demand, we’re rationing the number of swab kits we send to each veterinary practice.”

Newbury’s Betfair Super Saturday card was due to host the Denman Chase, featuring a clash between reigning Gold Cup title-holder Native River and rising star Clan Des Obeaux.

“This precautionary approach is intended to ensure we put the health of the horse population and control of the virus first, and avoid any unnecessary risk that might come from returning to racing too quickly,” said the BHA. in 1989 and in Newmarket in 2003, although no meetings were lost. Australian racing was badly affected in 2007, but did not have a policy of mandatory vaccination at the time of the outbreak.