Philippines: Manila Lifts Ban On Horse Imports From Australia

The Philippine government has lifted a ban it imposed on importing horses from Australia after determining that the country is already safe from equine influenza or horse flu.
In a memorandum it issued recently, the Department of Agriculture (DA) noted that the Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2007 of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) indicated that horses can be imported from an equine influenza-free country, zone or compartment.
The DA also noted that the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) has already endorsed the lifting of the ban on horse imports from Australia.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap disclosed that horse flu is already present in the Philippines and that horses in competition are required to be vaccinated every year.
Yap, however, maintained that strict protocols should be observed when importing horses from Australia.
In September 2007, the DA imposed the ban based on an official report submitted by Australia's Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry which confirmed the outbreak of equine influenza in Sydney, New South Wales.
With the lifting of the ban, the Philippines will start issuing veterinary quarantine clearances that will allow the shipment of horses from Australia. Veterinary quarantine officers and inspectors will also no longer stop and confiscate shipments of horses from Australia at all major ports.
While there is no data available as to the exact number of horses shipped to the Philippines from Australia, local breeders are known to source their studs there.
Equine influenza or horse flu is a major virus disease that causes flu-like symptoms in horses. The viral disease is present throughout Europe, North America and parts of Asia.
Experts say the virus can be spread easily from horse to horse as a result of droplets and also from nasal discharge and from infected brushes and rugs. The disease is known to be contagious and there is almost a 100 percent infection rate in a population that has been previously unexposed to the virus.
Among the symptoms of the disease are fever and a dry hacking cough. Horses become ill and are reluctant to eat or drink for several days. Horses afflicted with the disease are usually given antibiotics.
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