Manama, February 12: A COMPLETE ban on moving horses between stables could be lifted in a matter of weeks.
Vets are now in the process of examining every horse in Bahrain for the deadly bacterial infection glanders, which was first diagnosed here last April.
Once those checkups are complete the ban will be lifted, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs livestock director Dr Salman Abdul Nabi Ebrahim told the GDN.
“As soon as all the animals are tested and re-tested, the ban shall be lifted,” he said.
Dr Ebrahim claimed that there hadn’t been a single case of glanders detected since July last year.
“The animals that have been tested so far have all reported no glanders,” he added.
“However, we are also testing the animals at random again and even in those tests, there is no evidence of the disease.”
In addition to testing, all horses are now being implanted with microchips that contain information about the vaccinations they have received, as well as other details.
“This will in future enable us to quickly identify and isolate any animal that may have any disease,” added Dr Ebrahim.
He added that although the ban on moving horses between stables still applied, exceptions could be made by Bahrain’s Glanders Testing Committee.
Horse owners must first apply for permission from the committee before being allowed to transport the animals.
“The committee evaluates all cases and decides accordingly,” added Dr Ebrahim.
He confirmed that several horses had been moved between stables in recent weeks, but with the committee’s consent.
“The committee looks at the recent tests, authorises another test if required and evaluates the case,” he explained.
Dr Ebrahim said anyone wanting to enter horses in competitions also had to apply to the committee for permission.
“We have had competitions in Bahrain in the last few months and there will be more in the next few weeks, but all steps are being taken to ensure rules are followed,” he added.
Glanders led to more than 40 animals being put down in Bahrain last year.
Most were horses, but there were also reports of a camel and donkey also contracting the disease.
Glanders can also be contracted by humans, but the chances of that are rare.
Symptoms of glanders include the formation of nodular lesions in the lungs and ulceration of the mucous membranes in the upper respiratory tract.
The acute form results in coughing, fever and the release of a highly infectious nasal discharge. Death can occur within a few weeks.
–Agencies–