Industry changed forever

Diane Sheehan

October 19, 2007 12:00am
ONE of the problems with equine influenza, which strikes horses, mules and donkeys, is that the effects on humans are difficult to see.

This viral disease spreads like wildfire and causes respiratory symptoms of the kind with which most humans who have been laid low with the flu are all too familiar. Fortunately, there is no risk of humans catching the disease from horses.

The images we see in the media are of empty racecourses and TABs as well as the odd thoroughbred looking worse for wear. For many people not involved in horse industries in New South Wales and Queensland, or who are not fans of horseracing, it may not seem to be all that serious.
What is difficult to encapsulate in the media reports are the thousands of people in financial and emotional distress.

Anyone who thinks, as we have seen reported on occasion, that the only people who have benefited from horse flu are veterinarians, has not been looking at my emails. Some veterinary practices that specialise in equine services have seen their incomes cut by 95 per cent. To understand why this has occurred, you need to understand what has happened to the income of vets' clients.

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